Siranush Sahakyan: The Armenian side has not yet expressed its readiness to support the women`s humanitarian mission`s visit to Baku.

ArmInfo. The Republic of Armenia has still not provided a clear position on whether the initiative of Veronika Zonabend, wife of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, to send a women's humanitarian mission to Baku to visit Armenian prisoners of war could receive state support. This was stated by Siranush Sahakyan, a human rights activist and representative of Armenian prisoners of war at the ECHR, at a press conference in Yerevan on September 4.

As the human rights activist recalled, Veronika Zonabend intends to lead an international women's humanitarian delegation to Azerbaijan to see Armenian prisoners of war and hand them certain items, as well as to ensure the rights they are deprived of in custody. "We have asked the Republic of Armenia to provide a clear position on whether such an initiative could receive state support. In particular, can the Republic of Armenia coordinate such a visit with the Azerbaijani side, given that under the current circumstances this cannot be a private initiative, since the Azerbaijani authorities must also provide an entry visa. Also, given the security issue and the fact that visiting closed institutions in Azerbaijan is impossible without the consent of the authorities, it will be simply impossible to physically enter where Armenian prisoners are being held," Sahakyan noted.

She noted that they have not yet received an official response from the Armenian authorities and the issue is under discussion. "We expect that the Republic of Armenia will present its position on this issue shortly," Sahakyan concluded.

It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown. Experts estimate there are several hundred. The Azerbaijani authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians. Among those held captive by Azerbaijan 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 Davit Babayan; as well as parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan; former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan; General David Manukyan; and former state minister Ruben Vardanyan. On February 5, a Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, while Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison. The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison. Ruben Vardanyan, whose case was separated into separate proceedings, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

On August 1, Veronika Zonabend, wife of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, issued a renewed appeal to the Azerbaijani Ombudsman and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, calling for assistance in organizing a women's humanitarian mission to visit Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijani prisons.