Health of Armenian Captive in Baku "Sharply Deteriorates"

The health condition of Vigen Euljekjian, an Armenian prisoner illegally held in a Baku prison, has sharply deteriorated. He is no longer able to walk and is deprived of proper medical care and basic necessities. Argentine-Armenian lawyer Luciana Minassian has raised the alarm about this, providing details from her last contact with Euljekjian.

On November 16, after 45 days of complete isolation, the Azerbaijani side allowed Vigen Euljekjian to have a short telephone conversation with his family members. During that conversation, he reported that his physical condition had sharply worsened, he was no longer able to walk and needed a wheelchair, but the prison authorities refused to provide one.

Euljekjian also reported that although he was taken to a doctor, the accompanying prison guards did not allow him to receive any medication. "Despite his health condition, he has not received any medical assistance and continues to remain without medical care, which is a violation of fundamental humanitarian standards," stressed lawyer Minassian.

The situation is also complicated by the problem of food. According to Euljekjian, the only food provided to him is tea and bread. The lawyer qualifies this as a step to deliberately subject the person to deprivation and as inhuman treatment that demeans human dignity.

According to Luciana Minassian, if the information provided by Vigen Euljekjian is confirmed, it will be a gross violation of international law, the right to treatment of prisoners, and the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

"The refusal of medical care, deprivation of food, obstruction of the supply of medication, and refusal to provide a wheelchair are a serious threat to Vigen's health and life. We demand an independent medical assessment, ensure humanitarian access by qualified international bodies, ensure the provision of proper food and necessary medication, and provide a wheelchair," the lawyer stated, noting that the relevant UN bodies and international human rights organizations will be informed about these problems.

As a reminder, Vigen Euljekjian and his wife, Maral Najarian, were illegally arrested by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 10, 2020, one day after the end of the 44-day war. In 2021, Maral Najarian was released, but Vigen Euljekjian remains in a Baku prison. As a result of a sham trial, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.