Red Cross visits Artsakh senior officials held illegally in Azerbaijan

On October 20, ICRC staff visited the former presidents of Artsakh, Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, generals David Manukyan and Levon Mnatsakanyan, and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, who are held illegally in Azerbaijan. This was confirmed by Zara Amatuni, Head of Communication and Prevention Programs of the Armenian Office of the ICRC, on Tuesday.

“The visits followed our standard procedures. Everyone was given the opportunity to contact their relatives during the meetings. In October, our staff also visited other individuals whose arrest was confirmed by the Azerbaijani authorities to the ICRC. According to procedures, the ICRC representatives held private conversations with other detainees and provided the opportunity to contact relatives,” Amatuni said.