Armenian Detainees Cite Rights Violations in Azerbaijan Appeal

On September 16, 2026, Ruben Vardanyan, one of nineteen Armenian citizens detained at the Umbaki penitentiary complex, recorded a public address directed at Sabina Aliyeva, the Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan. Vardanyan’s message follows Aliyeva’s public statement regarding her office's readiness to assist in matters concerning the legal rights of convicted Armenian nationals. According to reports from GN geopolitics/rights (en-US), the appeal details specific operational failures within the facility that the detainees argue contravene Azerbaijan’s own legislative framework.

The detainees reference the Code on the Execution of Sentences and a rights booklet distributed by the Commissioner’s office in April 2026. Vardanyan emphasizes that these protections are mandatory regardless of the specific charges, ethnicity, or citizenship of the individuals. The core of the complaint rests on the assertion that basic procedural guarantees, which are standard in the country's legal code, are not being implemented for this specific group of prisoners.

Specific Operational Deficiencies Cited

The appeal outlines several distinct areas where the detainees claim their rights are being violated. These include the suspension of weekly telephone calls for some individuals and the complete unavailability of video calls, resulting in some prisoners not seeing their children for nearly three years. Additionally, the detainees report an inability to obtain necessary medical tests, even when offering to pay for them personally. Legal representation is also hindered, as the appeal states that notarial services required to execute powers of attorney for family members are being refused.

Physical well-being concerns are also central to the grievances. The detainees allege that their access to physical exercise is restricted to a mere twenty to forty minutes once a week, significantly below the one hour per day provided for in the regulations. Furthermore, the appeal notes a lack of written responses to formal applications and complaints filed with prison administration, suggesting a breakdown in the internal accountability mechanisms that are supposed to govern the facility.

Isolation and Communication Barriers

A critical dimension of the detainees' situation is their increasing isolation from the outside world. Vardanyan points to the closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) operations in Azerbaijan as a primary factor in the loss of communication channels with families. With the ICRC no longer facilitating contact, most detainees report receiving no parcels. This lack of external support has compounded internal issues, as many prisoners lack the funds to purchase food from the prison shop or pay for telephone calls, leaving them in a state of financial and social vulnerability.

Efforts to alleviate this isolation through external advocacy have reportedly stalled. The appeal references the initiative of Veronika Zonabend, who has expressed willingness to travel to Baku to meet with the Commissioner and the detainees to deliver over a thousand letters, parcels, and essential items. Despite these overtures, the detainees state that their appeals have gone unanswered and that no alternative mechanisms for delivering these items have been proposed by the authorities.

Request for Direct Engagement

The conclusion of Vardanyan’s appeal is a direct request for the Commissioner to meet with the detainees and to issue a formal response to the grievances listed. The message underscores the urgency of the situation, noting that while the detainees do not know how long their confinement will last, the adherence to domestic law remains the primary expectation. The final sentiment of the appeal is a call for the Commissioner to uphold the legal standards she represents, regardless of the political context surrounding the convictions.