Siranush Sahakyan, legal representative for Armenian captives at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), addressed the Azerbaijani ombudsman's statement claiming that Artsakh's State Minister Ruben Vardanyan and others are satisfied with their detention conditions. She highlighted contradictions between the published text and photos of Vardanyan, questioning the reliability of such assessments.
Sahakyan emphasized that Vardanyan's situation has become a severe humanitarian concern. She noted the clear contradiction between the published text and photos, stating that the Azerbaijani ombudsman's assessments cannot be deemed trustworthy due to the lack of "A" status, indicating non-compliance with the Paris Principles and a lack of operational independence, making them dependent on the executive branch. Consequently, their reports are not considered credible internationally.
She further explained that ombudsmen with "A" status possess full independence, can cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms, and their reports are deemed reliable. In contrast, the "B" status held by the Azerbaijani ombudsman indicates partial compliance and operational dependence, leading to their reports being considered unreliable internationally.
Additionally, studies reveal that the Azerbaijani ombudsman is closely linked to the country's political elite, being the daughter of the notable figure Yasha Aliyev and the spouse of a member of the Majlis. She has also been awarded multiple times by Ilham Aliyev, including for cooperation in the military sector. Therefore, reliance should be placed solely on assessments by independent international human rights experts, yet Azerbaijan does not permit them to visit our captives.
Sahakyan also addressed the published testimonies of former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan and former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, sharing her observations. She noted that only photos from the Azerbaijani state news agency Azertaj are available, circulated by other media outlets, and no videos have been released, possibly to avoid showing Vardanyan's condition after a 15-day hunger strike. Vardanyan's case is unique, with his health and life clearly at risk. Despite his condition, he refuses to testify. Given the nature of the published "charges," there is little point in testifying.
Regarding our other political prisoners, we are uncertain whether they have made statements as reported by Azerbaijani media. Only one state media outlet attends the sessions, and their statements are edited.
She added that the most crucial step now is to persuade him to end the hunger strike, as his current health condition is the most concerning. I sincerely hope we can convince him to cease the hunger strike; at this moment, that is the most important. We must also do everything possible and impossible to apply any urgent international humanitarian mechanisms. The issue has now taken on a severe humanitarian nature," she stated.
In the penultimate court session, Vardanyan's condition sharply deteriorated, and photos taken during the session showed injuries on his face. Despite this, the court forced him to attend the session. Vardanyan's international lawyer recently provided details about his health condition, indicating that his life is in serious danger.
