MP: Baku considers expelling Red Cross as abuse of prisoners escalates

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian MP Tigran Abrahamyan announced on Facebook that Azerbaijan is considering expelling the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) amid ongoing abuse and sham trials of Armenian prisoners held in Baku.

According to Abrahamyan, Azerbaijan is following a familiar pattern—first launching a propaganda campaign against international organizations, NGOs, or media outlets, then justifying their expulsion with accusations of espionage or other alleged crimes.

He emphasized that no serious international pressure has been placed on Azerbaijan, despite its gradual shift from authoritarianism to totalitarianism.

"One day, a media outlet is shut down; another day, people are imprisoned for speaking freely. Azerbaijan is systematically eliminating any press or organization capable of documenting its rapid democratic decline and rising violence," he stated.

From Armenia’s perspective, the situation is particularly concerning because the Red Cross facilitates contact with Armenian detainees in Azerbaijani prisons.

"Not to mention that the ICRC provides the only independent, visual assessment of their condition," Abrahamyan added.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement reaffirming its ongoing efforts to highlight Azerbaijan's mistreatment of Armenian prisoners and the staged trials featuring blatant due process violations and signs of torture.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan reported that former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan's latest photos reveal visible injuries on his body. Vardanyan has been on a hunger strike for a week, and at his last court hearing, his health deteriorated sharply. Photos from the hearing showed injuries on his face, yet the court forced him to attend the session. His international lawyer warned that his life is in serious danger.