Azerbaijan’s ombudsman’s office has rejected reports that the rights of Ruben Vardanyan and other convicted ethnic Armenians were violated, saying their detention conditions have been monitored regularly.
Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva said members of the National Preventive Group visited the detainees during the investigation, court proceedings and after their transfer to correctional facilities, according to Vestibaku.
The ombudsman’s office said the prisoners were informed of their rights in their native language and examined by a doctor. It said books and legal materials were provided upon request.
The statement also said they were able to call relatives and contact the ombudsman’s 916 call center.
Medical and Notarial Requests
According to the office, requests for additional medical examinations and telephone calls were granted.
It also said a request from Arayik Harutyunyan for notarial services was fulfilled under the supervision of members of the National Preventive Group.
The ombudsman’s office described online allegations of rights violations as unfounded and politically motivated. The statement did not specify which reports prompted the response.
Official Azerbaijani Position
The account represents the official position of the Azerbaijani authorities. The published statement did not provide independent verification of the detention conditions it described.
The issue remains politically sensitive because Vardanyan and other ethnic Armenian defendants have been at the center of competing claims about legal process and detention standards.