Vardanyan's wife launches humanitarian mission for Armenian detainees
Ruben Vardanyan’s wife announces international humanitarian mission to visit Armenian detainees in Baku
Veronika Zonabend, wife of Armenian businessman and former Nagorno Karabakh Prime Minister Ruben Vardanyan, has announced a humanitarian initiative to restore contact between Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan and their families.
Zonabend plans to organize an international women's delegation to travel to Baku in the coming weeks. The initiative was launched at her husband's request; Vardanyan has been detained in Azerbaijan since September 2023 and has not seen family members, including granddaughters born during his detention.
According to Zonabend, 19 Armenians remain in Azerbaijani custody, many having had no contact with relatives for years. She cited the closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation office in Baku as cutting off independent humanitarian access.
Zonabend has requested support from Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner to facilitate meetings at the Umbaki Penitentiary Complex and allow delivery of family packages, letters, and photographs. She characterized the effort as humanitarian rather than political.
