In Yerevan, participants of protest action speak out in defence of Armenian prisoners

At an action in Yerevan, activists from public organizations have called on the international community to seek respect for the rights of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that 28 public organizations sent an appeal to Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The activists have called on to conduct an independent examination of the health condition of Ruben Vardanyan, who is on a hunger strike, as well as to ensure respect for the rights of all Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Members of the “Union of Artsakh” (Artsakh is the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”) and the “We Are Our Mountains” development agency held a rally in front of the ICRC office in Yerevan. The protestors demanded that the Armenian authorities and the international community protect the lives and rights of Ruben Vardanyan and the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) in Azerbaijan.

Narine Agabalyan, the spokesperson for the “We Are Our Mountains” development agency, believes that “there is the need in actions in defence of the Armenians held hostage in Azerbaijan for the world community to see that the Armenian people are not indifferent.”

Public figure Artak Beglaryan accused international humanitarian organizations of inaction “when Azerbaijan was pursuing a genocidal policy towards Artsakh and its people,” and of particular indifference “during the blockade of Artsakh in 2022-2023 and the deportation of the population of Artsakh.” “Now the world must facilitate the return of Armenians from Azerbaijani captivity,” Artak Beglaryan stated.

Advocate Rafael Martirosyan has also claimed that the trials of Armenians in Baku “are combined with violence.” “The injuries visible on the Ruben Vardanyan’s face are clear evidence of that,” the advocate noted.