Ruben Vardanyan was not permitted to address Azerbaijan`s  Ombudsperson - family statement

ArmInfo.On 13 March, during a phone call with his family, Ruben Vardanyan attempted to deliver a public address to Azerbaijan's Ombudsperson, Sabina Aliyeva. The call was forcibly terminated.

This address was an act of last resort: over the preceding ten days,  Ruben had repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to reach her  through his lawyer, written requests, and phone calls.

The trials took place a month ago. To date, neither Ruben nor the  other Armenian prisoners have received the official texts of their  verdicts - neither in Russian, nor in Armenian, nor in Azerbaijani.  They do not know under which charges they were convicted, or when and  where they will be transferred.

We are deeply concerned by the current situation. The absence of  reliable information about his condition, combined with the  dismantling of independent human rights mechanisms in Azerbaijan -  including the departure of the International Committee of the Red  Cross - leaves all prisoners without any institutional protection.

We also fear that even brief phone calls - the only remaining means  of contact - may be cut off entirely.

We are publishing the audio recording of Ruben's address to  Azerbaijan's Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva - an address he was not  permitted to complete.

We hope that this appeal will reach its intended recipient.

The exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in  Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts estimate the number to  be several hundred. Currently, Azerbaijani authorities confirm the  presence of 19 Armenians in their custody. Among those held in  Azerbaijani captivity are eight former and current members of the  military-political leadership of Artsakh. These include former  Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik  Harutyunyan; former Foreign Minister David Babayan; as well as  Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanyan; former Commander of the Artsakh  Defense Army General Levon Mnatsakanyan; General David Manukyan; and  former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

Today, the Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, David  Babayan, David Ishkhanyan, David Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to  life imprisonment, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, and Ruben  Vardanyan to 20 years in prison on trumped-up charges. The so-called  court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in  prison.