Armenian Detainee Vardanyan Appeals for Prison Rights Compliance

Ruben Vardanyan, imprisoned at Azerbaijan's Umbaki penitentiary complex alongside 18 other Armenian citizens, has issued a public appeal to Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner requesting compliance with the country's own laws regarding detainee treatment.

Vardanyan cited specific violations including restricted phone and video call access, denial of medical testing, blocked notarial services, limited exercise time, and lack of written responses to complaints. He noted that closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan has severed communication channels with families, leaving many detainees unable to receive parcels or funds for basic necessities.

The appeal references a readiness initiative by Veronika Zonabend to deliver over 1,000 letters and parcels to detainees, stating such offers have received no response. Vardanyan emphasized that rights protections must apply regardless of charges, ethnicity, religion, or citizenship status.