Former Artsakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan, who is being held in a prison in Baku, issued a statement in response to Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan. The message was conveyed during a phone conversation with his family.

Addressing the Armenian authorities, Vardanyan urged them to publicly identify the official responsible for issues concerning Armenian detainees or admit that prisoners should not expect assistance from their own state.

“I managed to familiarize myself with the response of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan, to my appeal. I will not publicly evaluate her position. I leave that to her conscience. I will only say that I sincerely regret it. God will judge you,” Vardanyan said.

He questioned which Armenian institution is responsible for protecting Armenian citizens imprisoned in Azerbaijan if the issue does not fall within the ombudswoman’s mandate.

“If the protection of Armenian citizens in Azerbaijani prisons is not part of the ombudswoman’s mandate, then whose mandate is it? Who in our country is responsible for this issue? When was that person appointed, and why do neither the prisoners’ families nor society know about it?” he asked.

Vardanyan stated that some Armenians have been held in Baku prisons for six years, while the Armenian government has failed to establish a stable and transparent communication mechanism through third countries or international organizations.

He also questioned why Armenian representatives can travel to Azerbaijan for economic and trade discussions but cannot organize visits related to the lives, health and legal status of Armenian prisoners.

“Are people’s lives less important than trade negotiations?” he asked.

Vardanyan criticized the lack of a proper system for delivering essential items to detainees, saying that some prisoners have received nothing for more than a year and that many lack adequate clothing and basic necessities.

“If a person without teeth is given dried fruit, that is not assistance. It is humiliation,” he said.

The former Artsakh official also addressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan directly, asking whether the government is aware of these conditions and who bears personal responsibility for managing the process.

“Isn’t it shameful to receive a peace prize, speak about peace and accept applause while Armenian citizens remain in Baku prisons without proper protection or systematic support from their own state?” Vardanyan wrote.

He called on the authorities to disclose the responsible official, publish the operational mechanism and explain what has been done over the past six years.

“Or honestly admit that no such responsible person exists and that expecting help from one’s own state is pointless,” the statement said.

Earlier, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan responded to Vardanyan’s appeal calling for visits to Armenian detainees. She said her office had not received any official proposal for cooperation on the matter and had no confirmation that the Azerbaijani side was prepared to facilitate such cooperation.

Manasyan also provided clarifications regarding the mandate and authority of Armenia’s ombudswoman institution.