The rights of convicted persons of Armenian descent, including Ruben Vardanyan, are being ensured without discrimination, while statements circulated online on their behalf do not correspond to reality, Azerbaijan’s Ombudsman’s Office told Report news agency.
The office said that, under the National Preventive Mechanism, representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office had met with persons of Armenian descent, including Vardanyan, during the preliminary investigation and court proceedings, as well as after their sentencing and transfer to penitentiary institutions.
It said their rights, detention conditions and treatment had been subject to continuous monitoring throughout this period.
According to the office, the inspections were conducted in line with international standards, with the observance of human rights and freedoms remaining under constant scrutiny.
“During the visits, which were conducted without prior notice both by the Ombudsman and members of the National Preventive Group, these persons, including Ruben Vardanyan, had their rights explained to them in their native language. A doctor, who is a member of the National Preventive Group, checked their state of health. In accordance with their wishes, they were provided with relevant publications and legislative acts in their native language. In addition, based on the prisoners' requests, numerous works of fiction in various languages were given to them,” the statement said.
The Ombudsman’s Office also emphasized that each of the individuals has the opportunity to contact its call center by dialing 916, adding that all appeals received had been addressed in a timely manner in accordance with the law.
The office said the detainees’ conditions of confinement meet modern standards and that discrimination against them is not permitted. During successive visits, it said, monitors established that the convicts were provided with the rights and freedoms guaranteed by international documents and national legislation, including opportunities to engage in sports, take walks and organize their leisure time.
Following their transfer to penitentiary institutions, the convicts were provided with unlimited opportunities to make telephone calls to family members and access information, despite having no funds in their accounts, the office said.
Inspections also found that requests concerning notary and medical services were being fulfilled in accordance with the law.
“Most recently, Arayik Harutyunyan's appeal for a notary service was executed. Since this coincided with the day of the visit, members of the Ombudsman's National Preventive Group directly observed the provision of this service,” the office said.
It added that requests by the individuals for additional medical examinations and additional telephone conversations with family members had also been addressed, as had matters related to successive appeals submitted by the individuals and their lawyers to state bodies.
“Based on the results of independent monitoring and visits by the Ombudsman, we would like to state that the rights of these individuals, who were found guilty by the court of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other serious crimes, and sentenced to imprisonment, are ensured without any discrimination. The statements circulated on websites on behalf of the mentioned persons have no grounds, do not reflect reality, and serve biased political goals,” the Ombudsman's Office added.
By Tamilla Hasanova
