On 16 September 2026, Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh held in a Baku prison recorded a public appeal to the Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, who had stated her readiness to assist in matters concerning the rights of convicted Armenian citizens. He sets out violations that contravene Azerbaijan's legislation.

Ruben Vardanyan, held at the Umbaki penitentiary complex with eighteen other Armenian citizens, refers to the Code on the Execution of Sentences and to the booklet on prisoners' rights that the Commissioner's office handed to the detainees in April. He emphasises that these rights must be observed regardless of the charges brought against a person, their ethnicity, religion or citizenship.

Among the matters he raises: the absence of weekly telephone calls for some detainees and the unavailability of video calls, as a result of which some have not seen their children for almost three years; the impossibility of obtaining medical tests even at his own expense; the impossibility of executing a power of attorney for family members because notarial services are refused; the restriction of physical exercise to 20–40 minutes once a week instead of the hour a day provided for; and the absence of written replies to applications and complaints.

Vardanyan also states that, following the closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan, the detainees have lost their channel of communication with their families: most receive no parcels. Many are unable to buy food in the prison shop or make telephone calls because they have no funds. He recalls the initiative of Veronika Zonabend, who is ready to travel to Baku, meet the Commissioner and the convicted Armenian citizens, and bring them more than a thousand letters, parcels and essential items. Her appeals have gone unanswered, and no alternative solution has been proposed.

He asks the Commissioner to meet with the detainees and respond to his appeal.

“However long we still spend in Umbaki, please comply with your own laws.” – Ruben Vardanyan

The audio appeal with subtitles is available at this link.