Davit Ishkhanyan Raises Concerns Over the Rights of Armenian Detainees in New Audio Statement
Davit Ishkhanyan, former Speaker of the National Assembly of Artsakh, has released a new audio statement from the Umbaki Penitentiary Complex in Azerbaijan.
In his statement, he responds to recent remarks by Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner, Sabina Aliyeva, raises concerns about the rights of Armenian detainees, and addresses the Human Rights Defender and state authorities of Armenia.
The full English translation of Davit Ishkhanyan’s audio statement is provided below.
I learned from the Azerbaijani press that Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, recently spoke about the Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan — that is, about us — stating that everything is in accordance with the law, human rights, and international standards; that she holds confidential meetings with us; and that we have no problems.
From the standpoint of compliance with human rights standards, according to Sabina khanum, everything is fine.
Yes, I confirm that over the course of three years, she has met with us three times. The most recent meeting took place on May 5 of this year. During those confidential meetings she referred to — including the one four months ago — we provided her with extensive information about violations of our rights and of international legal standards. We spoke very openly and clearly about both our rights and the problems related to them. We expected her mediation and assistance.
We are not ungrateful, and I would like to take this opportunity once again to publicly thank Ms. Sabina for her consideration and for the coffee, tea, sweets, and books sent to us. But our problems are not about everyday living conditions. Those are secondary.
I am compelled to raise several questions and address them to Sabina khanum. I am sure she follows the press and will learn of my messages.
On May 5 of this year, during her meeting with us, we asked the Ombudsperson, both in writing and verbally, to provide my family with the Azerbaijani and Armenian versions of the February 5 judgment of the Baku Military Court, either through my defense lawyer or through her counterpart in the Republic of Armenia.
I also informed her that neither my defense lawyer nor any of the other defense lawyers had that judgment. Incidentally, they still do not. Access to it has been prohibited.
“I have nothing to do with the Armenian version; I will try to get the Azerbaijani version delivered.” That was her promise.
More than four months have passed, and nothing has happened. My family and I are waiting, Ms. Aliyeva.
Do my family and relatives have the right to know what charges we are being tried on and what judgment has been handed down? The same question applies to the families of the others. Is denying them this information a violation of rights and legal standards, or is it not?
The defense lawyers are not provided with either the indictment or the judgment. Is this a violation of rights or not? We, too, try to pass on the documents available to us, but we are not allowed to do so. Obstacles are simply placed in our way.
On the same day, May 5, I informed the Ombudsperson that the February 5 judgment of the Baku Military Court had not been published on any website. She was surprised, wrote some things down, and then… what?
Four months have passed since that conversation, and seven months since the judgment was delivered. Where has it been published — on the website of Azerbaijan’s judiciary, Ministry of Justice, government, or any other state institution?
Perhaps you published it on your own website? After all, we are accused of crimes against humanity. The international community has the right to know who is being tried in Azerbaijan, for what, and how.
Is this an international standard or not? I would call it pure medievalism.
There is another issue. On May 5, I informed her that since August 22, 2025, neither I nor my colleagues have been able to issue a power of attorney to our authorized representative in the Republic of Armenia so that this person can protect our interests both in Armenia and beyond.
And what happened? The Ombudsperson was surprised by this as well and made notes, intending to take action. But we explained to her — and she knows perfectly well — that the reason is the artificial obstacles created by Azerbaijani state bodies.
Four months have passed since then, and thirteen months since August 2025. Has anything changed in more than a year? Is this a violation of human rights and international law or not?
I would also like to inform the Ombudsperson that we have still not received the August 6, 2026 judgment of the Baku Court of Appeal. I am referring to the 14-minute court hearing that representatives of her office also attended.
We have not received it to this day. They simply will not give it to us.
Perhaps they are translating this one into Armenian as well and delaying its delivery on that pretext. Or perhaps the political weather is cloudy. Or perhaps this is not your concern. She will probably say that it is the defense lawyers who deal with questions concerning our rights.
Since the court hearing, we have neither seen our defense lawyers nor found anyone who will answer our questions.
Incidentally, I asked for the Azerbaijani version of the judgment, but to no avail.
And there are many other similar issues concerning our rights and international legal standards.
And how accessible is Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner? How can one contact the Ombudsperson’s Office through its hotline — whether from the detention facility of Azerbaijan’s State Security Service in Baku or from the penitentiary institution where we are now?
It would be better not to talk about that; it would not be proper. Let me put it briefly: there is no way at all.
Dear Sabina khanum, I hope that we will soon have the opportunity to welcome you as a guest in our hospitable cell.
And now, a few words to the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia and to representatives of the relevant Armenian state authorities.
Dear Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, on May 6 I addressed several questions to you remotely, with certain expectations. The result was zero.
I will not repeat those questions, but at the time I had doubts about your sense of responsibility and courage. It seems I was not mistaken.
It would not have been difficult for you to obtain, by one means or another, the judgment and the indictment and pass them on to my family. At the same time, you could have familiarized yourself with their contents and learned what fabricated and false accusations and formulations they contain concerning our people and our state — matters of honor.
I will not dwell on this further. I now invite you to Azerbaijan’s Umbaki Penitentiary Complex to meet with us.
I believe that, given the current political relations, such a visit would fit entirely within the existing framework and should present no difficulty.
Come and meet the prisoners of the “peace trial.” Your counterpart in the Republic of Azerbaijan will probably accompany you, and you will then be able, as they say, to learn everything firsthand.
We are waiting.
And to the relevant authorities and officials of the Republic of Armenia, this is what I have to say at this moment:
Demand and obtain the documents referred to in the Azerbaijani press as the indictments and conclusions concerning “persons of Armenian origin who are citizens of the Republic of Armenia,” as well as the judgments, and examine them yourselves. Determine whether they contain issues affecting Armenian statehood and the Armenian state, as well as the rights and honor of the Armenian people.
We, naturally, have given and continue to give well-founded, reasoned, and dignified responses and explanations to all of this.
Make no mistake: this trial has turned into a complete fiasco for Azerbaijan’s judicial system.
We have said so openly in court. How the dependent and censored press present at the hearings reports it is another matter.
As the saying goes, the dirt beneath the snow eventually comes to light.
Gentlemen responsible for the affairs of state, the 19 people held in Azerbaijan are individuals who carry passports of the Republic of Armenia.
Understand that this is not a matter of our individual honor.
It is a matter of the honor of us all.
And, to put it in the language you yourselves use: show at least a little sense of honor and stand by your people.
Take an example from others.
