Lawyer: ICRC operations in Baku under threat

No independent mechanism for the prevention of torture has had access to Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, lawyer Siranush Sahakyan states.

"No one has been able to visit them, objectively document their conditions of detention or assess their physical and psychological state,” Sahakyan, who represents Armenian prisoners of war at the European Court of Human Rights, told a panel discussion on Thursday.

Sahakyan stressed that the only organization with any access to Armenian prisoners in Baku, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is now facing serious operational threats.

Although ICRC staff typically visit Armenian detainees every six weeks, these visits are often disrupted, especially around public holidays or during major events.

“Azerbaijan always takes advantage of such occasions to delay or cancel scheduled visits,” the lawyer stated. “While the ICRC does monitor and record the prisoners' conditions, their findings are not made public. Only limited information is shared with the prisoners’ families. Any issues identified are communicated confidentially to the Azerbaijani authorities, with the expectation they will take corrective action.”

“We have observed no meaningful progress. Moreover, the evidence suggests that physical and psychological abuse – acts meant to degrade and humiliate Armenian prisoners – is becoming increasingly severe, particularly in light of recent developments," Sahakyan added.

She went on to describe the detention conditions of Armenian prisoners as inhumane, stating that the pressure they endure constitutes torture in its severity and the suffering it inflicts.

Sahakyan also emphasized that no independent international lawyers have been allowed to visit Armenian prisoners.