Vardanyan urges Azerbaijan’s ombudsperson to ‘follow your own laws’ over prison conditions

(Horizon Media) – Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan has issued a public appeal to Azerbaijan’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Sabina Aliyeva, raising a series of serious violations affecting Armenian prisoners held at the Umbaki penitentiary complex and urging Azerbaijani authorities to comply with their own laws.

In the September 16 message, Vardanyan said the concerns he raised contradict provisions of Azerbaijan’s own legislation, including its Code on the Execution of Sentences and a booklet on prisoners’ rights distributed to detainees by the ombudsperson’s office in April.

He stressed that those rights should apply regardless of the charges against a prisoner, nationality, religious affiliation or citizenship.

Among the issues cited by Vardanyan are the lack of weekly telephone calls for some prisoners and the unavailability of video calls, which he said has left some detainees unable to see their children for nearly three years.

He also raised concerns over restrictions on access to medical examinations, including an inability to undergo tests even at his own expense; the refusal of notarial services needed to issue powers of attorney to family members; and restrictions on physical exercise, which he said is limited to between 20 and 40 minutes once a week rather than the prescribed one hour per day.

Vardanyan further said written responses are not being provided to applications and complaints submitted by prisoners.

He also drew attention to the impact of the termination of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s activities in Azerbaijan. According to Vardanyan, prisoners have since lost an important channel of communication with their families, while most no longer receive parcels. He said some detainees also lack the financial means to purchase food from the prison shop or pay for telephone calls.

Vardanyan referred to an initiative by his wife, Veronika Zonabend, who has offered to travel to Baku to meet Aliyeva and the detained Armenians and deliver nearly 1,000 letters, parcels and other essential items. He said her requests have received no response and that Azerbaijani authorities have not proposed an alternative arrangement.

Vardanyan called on Aliyeva to personally meet with the Armenian prisoners and address the conditions he outlined.

“It does not matter how much longer we will spend in Umbaki. Please follow your own laws,” Vardanyan said in concluding his appeal.