Armenian NGOs urge Red Cross to conduct medical examination of Ruben Vardanyan

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) should conduct an independent examination of the health of Ruben Vardanyan, who is on a hunger strike, guarantee that he receives the due medical care and ensure the respect of the rights of all Armenian prisoners, 28 NGOs have stated.

On February 19, Ruben Vardanyan, a former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, went on a hunger strike in protest against the violation of legal norms during his trial in Baku. Vardanyan's hunger strike shows that the situation of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan is deteriorating. This was stated by eleven Armenian NGOs who called on the international community to facilitate Vardanyan's release.

In their letter to Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the ICRC, 28 NGOs expressed their concern about Vardanyan's health, as well as about the situation of other Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.

"Armenian prisoners are subjected to politically motivated persecutions, ethnic discrimination and unfair treatment," the authors of the letter state, adding that it is important that the ICRC’s visit is not postponed and takes place in a timely manner.