Veronika Zonabend, the wife of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, has announced an initiative to organize a women's international humanitarian delegation to Baku with the aim of visiting Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan.
In this connection, she appealed to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, asking him to inform her about possible steps, coordination efforts or practical support that could be provided by the Armenian government.
She also addressed letters to Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva, International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
"As part of preparations for a women's international humanitarian delegation to visit Baku and meet Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, I have sent public letters to the international and state institutions whose participation could be crucial for organizing the visit and ensuring the delegation's safety.
The initiative is exclusively humanitarian. Its purpose is to meet with the Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan, visit Armenian citizens held in Azerbaijan, deliver letters, photographs and other permitted personal belongings from their relatives.
For this reason, I consider it important to act openly and publicly through official and diplomatic channels.
Particular importance must be attached to ensuring predictability and coordination at every stage of a possible visit — entry into Azerbaijan, arrangements for meetings with detainees and the safe return of delegation members. It is essential for participants and their families to know that the initiative is being prepared through official channels and with appropriate security guarantees so that it poses no risk to their lives or safety.
To that end, I have sent open letters to:
The Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, requesting her support in organizing the visit under the auspices of her office and creating the necessary conditions for its implementation.
The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, asking the ICRC to consider providing assistance, advisory support or participation within the scope of its mandate.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, requesting information about possible measures, coordination or practical assistance by the Armenian government.
The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, requesting diplomatic attention and possible support from European institutions.
For people held in prolonged detention, such an initiative is of great importance. Their health, detention conditions and contact with their families should not be neglected or left to chance. This concerns a fundamental human right — the right of families to know what is happening to their loved ones, to send them messages of support and to be assured that they have not been forgotten," Zonabend's statement said.
The Baku court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan was sentenced to life imprisonment. Life sentences were also imposed on former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former First Deputy Commander Davit Manukyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan and former National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan. Former Nagorno-Karabakh Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were each sentenced to 20 years in prison. Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan received 19-year sentences, Garik Martirosyan 18 years, Davit Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan 16 years, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasily Beglaryan 15 years in prison.
