The Armenian Mirror-Spectator/Azatutyun — Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan are being kept in “absolute isolation” from the outside world, with their only contact with it coming through monitored telephone calls, according to Siranush Sahakyan, a Yerevan-based lawyer representing the prisoners at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
“There is no physical contact with the outside world,” Sahakyan said at a news conference on September 4. “They do not see their families, consular officials, independent doctors, lawyers or representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.”
She said that while monitored telephone calls were allowed, Azerbaijani authorities could forcefully terminate them at any time.
Twenty Armenians are currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan, including eight former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh who were detained after Baku’s military recapture of the breakaway region in 2023.
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All of them have been tried and convicted on various charges related to alleged war crimes, with prison terms ranging from 20 years to life. Human rights lawyers are now seeking to defend their rights before the ECHR.
Sahakyan also mentioned complaints among Armenian prisoners about inadequate medical care provided to them in Azerbaijan.
“Basically, medication may be provided in extreme situations to alleviate certain symptoms, but no measures are being taken to treat existing illnesses or prevent their deterioration,” she said.
“According to our information, medical assistance and treatment are not being properly organized for the Armenian prisoners,” Sahakyan added, stressing that she has no independent assessment of their actual health condition.
By Naira Bulghadarian
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