ICRC updates MPs on visits to Armenian captives in Baku

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Parliament hosted employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Armenia office. The meeting focused on organizing visits to Armenian prisoners and other detainees held in Azerbaijan, the legal proceedings against them, and other humanitarian issues.

During the discussion, Rustam Bakoyan, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs, told Daphne Mare, Head of the ICRC Delegation in Armenia, that the organization is expected to continue all necessary efforts to ensure the safety of the detainees in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The discussion, held on February 3, was also attended by Committee members Tigran Parsilyan and Marina Ghazaryan.

MPs emphasized that ICRC representatives regularly visit Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.

"In my opinion, your organization, as a neutral and independent mediator, must maintain confidentiality while also engaging with Azerbaijani authorities and exchanging information," Bakoyan stated.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has alleged that former political and military leaders of Artsakh, currently imprisoned in Baku, are being given psychotropic substances. He added that intelligence reports confirm this and that the aim is to provoke escalation. Baku has denied these accusations.

In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its Armenian population, Azerbaijan captured former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, along with former state minister Ruben Vardanyan, foreign minister Davit Babayan, and several other officials. The fabricated charges against them could result in life sentences. The first court hearing of their case took place in Baku on January 17.

On January 16, Ruben Vardanyan stated that since his arrest, he has refused to provide any testimony beyond his name. He asserted that all documents bearing his signature are falsified and confirmed that he, his lawyer, and his translator have been subjected to pressure.