Opposition MP asked Armenia’s ombudsperson to discuss her steps to protect Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku

Arminfo.  Lilit Galstyan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the opposition Armenia faction and chair of the parliamentary committee on human rights and public affairs, sent a letter to Armenian Ombudsperson Anahit Manasyan regarding the protection of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku. Galstyan herself reported this on her Facebook page.

"The other day, another alarming signal came from a Baku prison from former Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh Davit Ishkhanyan. Ruben Vardanyan and Davit Babayan had previously appealed to the Armenian authorities from Baku on issues of humanitarian law and other human rights matters. The violations of the rights of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku are unprecedented, and the facts of their torture are obvious," the MP wrote in the preface to the letter addressed to Armenia's ombudsperson.

She reminded that the protection and security of compatriots, citizens of Armenia, is the constitutional duty of the Armenian authorities, an issue of the Republic of Armenia and the collective dignity of the Armenian people.

"I sent Ombudsperson Anahit Manasyan an official letter regarding their protection, particularly expecting answers to the aforementioned questions. Specifically, what actions have you taken within the scope of your powers to protect the rights of our compatriots under humanitarian law; what issues did you raise in your letter to the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan and what response did you receive; do you plan to appeal to the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan with a request to take appropriate steps to provide our compatriots with judicial acts and guarantee their fundamental rights; what steps have you taken within the framework of international cooperation to restore the violated rights of our compatriots illegally detained in Azerbaijan, and what results have you achieved?" Galstyan said, finally asking the ombudsperson to present what steps she plans to take in this direction.

In her letter to Armenia's ombudsperson, the Armenian MP reminded that since the beginning of the 44-day war unleashed against the Republic of Artsakh in 2020, Azerbaijan has continued to illegally hold Armenians captive in gross violation of international law.

She added that their messages from Baku are horrifying and testify to cruel, inhuman treatment, torture and other threats to life and

health.

"On September 9, former Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh Davit Ishkhanyan, who is held captive in Azerbaijan, addressed you and the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan with a message in which he described an extremely alarming situation.  Davit Ishkhanyan reports that he has not received the verdicts of the Baku Military Court, not even the Azerbaijani version, and that they have not been published on any website. According to Article 6, Part 1 of the 1950 Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: "In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law."  Article 3 of the same Convention states: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

Since August 22, 2025, neither Davit Ishkhanyan nor the other prisoners of war have been able to issue a power of attorney to their representative in the Republic of Armenia so that the latter could defend their interests in Armenia and abroad. He also notes that he appealed to you on May 6 of this year, but has still not received a response. In his message of April 21, Ruben Vardanyan asked that consideration be given to a visit to Baku by his wife, Veronika Zonabend, the relatives of other Armenian prisoners of war and you.  Davit Babayan also expressed concern over the illegal trials held in Azerbaijan on August 19," Galstyan recalled.

She added that in its 2024 report on Azerbaijan, the UN Committee against Torture emphasized its concern over the torture of Armenian prisoners of war, while in its 2026 annual report on Azerbaijan, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom noted that Armenian Christian prisoners had been subjected to beatings and psychological abuse, denied medical care and adequate nutrition, refused Bibles, and had their cross tattoos removed by burning.

"According to Article 191, Part 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia: "The Human Rights Defender is an independent official who, among other things, contributes to the restoration of violated rights and freedoms." Given the fact that, with the closure of other channels of cooperation between states, cooperation between the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) is an important and decisive tool for monitoring compliance with human rights. This allows national human rights institutions to express concern about compliance with human rights standards in another state by directly addressing their colleagues in that state," she noted.

It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war  and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts estimate that there are several hundred of them. Today, the Azerbaijani authorities confirm that they hold 19 Armenians.  Those held in Azerbaijani captivity include 8 former and current representatives of the military and political leadership of Artsakh. They are 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 Davit Manukyan and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

In February, the Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment on fabricated charges, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.  The so-called court sentenced the other Artsakh Armenians to up to 15 years in prison.