Pashinyan Defends Caution over Armenian Prisoners in Azerbaijan

It was not until February 24 that the government denounced the “mock trials” through Foreign Ministry Ararat Mirzoyan. The Armenian Foreign Ministry stepped up Mirzoyan’s carefully worded criticism four days later as it faced protests by activists accusing Yerevan of doing little to get Baku to free the Armenian captives.

“We did not want to provoke torture, the use of prohibited means, etc. with our statements,” said Pashinyan. “Why are we making a statement now? Because we see that we cannot provoke anymore because [torture] has already happened?”

He clearly referred to images of Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian businessman and philanthropist, appearing before a military court in Baku on February 24, one week after the start of his latest hunger strike. Vardanyan, who briefly served as Karabakh premier from November 2022 to February 2023, looked frail and had apparent bruises on his face. His appearance added to public fury with the Armenian government’s cautious stance.

On Monday, March 2, several dozen activists picketed the Yerevan office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to urge the Geneva-based organization to pay more attention to the plight of at least 23 Armenians remaining in Azerbaijani captivity. Organizers of the protest were unconvinced by Pashinyan’s latest assurances.

“I am appalled by not only Azerbaijan’s actions but also the terrible, inhuman policy pursued by the current Armenian authorities,” said Larisa Alaverdyan, a veteran human rights campaigner.

Artak Beglaryan, Karabakh’s former human rights ombudsman, said the authorities in Yerevan are primarily to blame for the fact that Vardanyan and the 22 other Armenians are still held in Azerbaijan.