SOAR calls for immediate restoration of ICRC access to Armenian prisoners

The Buenos Aires Chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR), under the leadership of Attorney Luciana Minassian, has formally addressed an urgent appeal to Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, calling for the immediate restoration of humanitarian access to Armenian prisoners currently detained in Azerbaijan.

The appeal highlights the alarming situation faced by detainees, including prominent Armenian figure Ruben Vardanyan, who remain without access to basic humanitarian safeguards. More than a month after the conclusion of their trials, detainees have reportedly not received official verdicts, remain uninformed of the charges against them, and lack clarity regarding their place of detention.

Serious concerns have also been raised regarding the physical and psychological condition of the prisoners. Testimonies from individuals released in January 2026 point to deteriorated health conditions, intensifying fears for those who remain in custody.

The situation has been further aggravated by the absence of independent monitoring mechanisms following the departure of the International Committee of the Red Cross from Azerbaijan. Families are now left to rely on rare and brief telephone communications as their only connection to detained relatives, communications that are themselves increasingly uncertain.

In its appeal, SOAR calls upon the International Committee of the Red Cross to:

 • Re-establish access to places of detention;

 • Ensure detainees receive official legal documentation in a language they understand;

 • Facilitate regular and protected communication with families;

 • Monitor the health and treatment conditions of all detainees.

“This is a matter of fundamental human dignity and humanitarian law,” stated Luciana Minassian. “No individual should be left without oversight, without information, and without the ability to communicate with their family. The restoration of humanitarian access is not optional, it is essential.”

SOAR emphasized its full confidence in the mandate and historic role of the International Committee of the Red Cross as a neutral and indispensable humanitarian actor and expressed readiness to cooperate in any efforts aimed at protecting the rights and wellbeing of detainees.