Veronika Zonavend Appeals to Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner

Veronika Zonavend has once again sent official letters to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights Sabina Aliyeva, seeking to organize a humanitarian visit by an international women's delegation to Baku.

"This week marks 100 days since Ruben has been transferred to the Umbaki penal complex. His detention has continued since September 2023, and during this entire time, he has not been able to meet with his family in person. Previously, I had sent requests to Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights Sabina Aliyeva and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding the preparation of the humanitarian delegation to Baku. This initiative continues to be exclusively humanitarian in nature—to visit Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, deliver letters, photographs, and permitted personal items from their families, and help maintain their connection with their families.

To date, we have not received official responses to the previous requests sent. Therefore, on July 30, I sent official letters once again to Ms. Sabina Aliyeva and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with specific proposals regarding the practical organization of the humanitarian visit. Today, I also publicly appeal to them again.

I urge Ms. Aliyeva to facilitate the organization of visits to Armenian prisoners held in the Umbaki penal complex, to establish the possible format of the visit, the order of entry and the transfer of packages from families, as well as the conditions for the safe entry, stay, and unobstructed exit of delegation members. We are ready to discuss officially approved formats, including the complete delegation's visit, visits by limited groups of participants, or the implementation of visits accompanied by a representative of the human rights commissioner's staff.

It is fundamentally important for us that the chosen format ensures direct humanitarian contact with the prisoners and allows them to receive permitted items from their relatives. I again urge the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to appoint a responsible person for coordinating this initiative and ensure the necessary diplomatic and practical support for its preparation.

I wish to act through transparent, responsible, and official channels. I hope for an official response and readiness for practical cooperation.

Veronika Zonavend,

as written in the letter's text.