NGO head: Photos show Ruben Vardanyan endured severe torture in Baku jail

Human rights activist Larisa Alaverdyan, Armenia’s former ombudsperson, has raised concerns over severe torture inflicted on political prisoner Ruben Vardanyan in an Azerbaijani prison.

“All Armenian captives in Baku are subjected to torture – there isn’t a single case without severe physical abuse. I won’t even mention the psychological torment,” Alaverdyan, Executive Director of the Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO, told a press conference on Thursday.

She noted that many of the torture methods mirror those used by Turkey before and during the Armenian Genocide.

“The photos clearly show that Ruben Vardanyan is being subjected to severe torture. Let me describe just one method, though I cannot say for certain whether it has been used in his case. It’s a well-known technique where a metal ring is placed around a prisoner’s head and gradually tightened, creating immense pressure,” she explained.

Alaverdyan claimed that the torture methods inflicted on Armenian prisoners are still being used against those currently held in Azerbaijani captivity.

“For a normal person, it is difficult even to fathom such brutality,” she said, emphasizing that Ruben Vardanyan’s case is exceptional. “Despite being a hostage, he continues to take great risks by making public statements.”