Armenian Prisoners in Azerbaijan Report Rights Denials

Ruben Vardanyan, a former senior official from Nagorno-Karabakh, says he and 18 other Armenian prisoners are being denied fundamental rights in Azerbaijani custody. In an audio appeal recorded on September 16, Vardanyan detailed a lack of regular family contact, adequate exercise, and access to medical tests.

Vardanyan addressed Azerbaijan's human rights commissioner, Sabina Aliyeva. He stated that some prisoners at Umbaki prison do not receive their allotted weekly phone calls and that none are permitted video calls. "When my cellmate was arrested, his child was 10 months old," Vardanyan said. "Now the child is more than 3 years old and has not seen his father."

Alleged Violations

Vardanyan claims prisoners get only 20 to 40 minutes of outdoor exercise once a week, far short of the hour a day stipulated by law. He also alleges being unable to obtain medical tests even at his own expense, access notary services, or receive written responses to official complaints. Human Rights Watch, which published the appeal, notes it has not independently verified these allegations.

On September 19, Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva's office formally rejected the allegations that the prisoners' rights were being violated.

Impact of Red Cross Closure

Contact between the prisoners and their families became significantly more difficult after the Azerbaijani government closed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in the country in September 2025. The ICRC reports that Geneva-based representatives conducted a visit in December, meeting detainees privately, offering family communication, and assessing conditions. However, such visits are now less regular.

Context of Detention and Trial

Vardanyan was detained in September 2023 while leaving Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia alongside over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing Azerbaijan's military takeover. The Baku Military Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison on February 17, 2026, on charges including terrorism, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The trial raised serious fair trial concerns. Civilians, including Vardanyan, were tried before a military court in hearings largely closed to independent observers. Amnesty International reported that evidence was presented in a language the defendants did not understand and was not adequately translated.

Human Rights Watch states Azerbaijan should ensure all prisoners can maintain regular family contact, receive mail and parcels, obtain necessary medical care, and have adequate daily outdoor exercise. The organization also calls for regular ICRC access to conflict-related detainees. Vardanyan concluded his appeal with a direct plea: Regardless of how much longer we spend in Umbaki, I ask you, at least comply with your own laws.