Geneva, Switzerland
To the Esteemed Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross,
We, the Buenos Aires chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR), write to you with urgency, sorrow, and unwavering hope.
Vicken Euljeckjian, an Armenian prisoner of war held in Azerbaijan since 2020, has been waging a silent but deeply painful protest through a hunger strike that has now lasted over 15 days. His demand is heartbreakingly simple: a phone call to his wife, Linda. One call — a basic human connection — is all he seeks.
International humanitarian law, as outlined in the Geneva Conventions, guarantees prisoners of war the right to communicate regularly with their families. Yet, this right has been denied. Azerbaijani authorities have blocked the International Committee of the Red Cross from accessing the facility where Vicken and others are detained, cutting them off from the outside world, from humanitarian oversight, and most painfully, from the voices of their loved ones.
Tragically, this violation extends beyond Vicken. Since February 21st, civilian Armenian prisoners have also been denied contact with their families. Parents, children, spouses, and siblings have been left in paralyzing uncertainty — not knowing whether their loved ones are safe, cared for, or even alive. The mental and emotional toll of this silence cannot be overstated.
In addition to communication, these detainees are entitled to receive essential supplies through care packages every six months. With ICRC access restricted, families are left in anguish, forced to send aid with no assurance it will reach its destination — their gestures of love transformed into symbols of powerlessness.
We respectfully and urgently call on the International Committee of the Red Cross to use all diplomatic and humanitarian means at its disposal to restore access to detainees in Azerbaijan. These individuals are not only entitled to oversight and communication under international law — they are human beings whose dignity must be protected.
As an organization committed to defending vulnerable Armenian populations, we stand in solidarity with these detainees and their families. We trust in the ICRC’s enduring mission to uphold humanitarian principles and appeal for your immediate intervention to restore contact and aid delivery without delay.
The right to family communication is not a privilege. It is a moral and legal obligation — and in moments like this, it is a lifeline.
With deep respect and hope,
SOAR– Buenos Aires Chapter
Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief
