Ruben Vardanyan, the former Minister of State of Artsakh, kidnapped by Azerbaijan and illegally held in Baku prison, announced a hunger strike in April 2024. As a punishment for this, according to the lawyers, he was transferred to the punishment cell, this is reportedBBC Russian service.
"In the penitentiary, the light was on for 24 hours, which led to lack of sleep and exhaustion. In addition, Ruben was forced to stand for a long time and was deprived of water for more than 2 days.
Moreover, he was deprived of the opportunity to wash and change his linen and clothes, Vardanyan had to sleep on a dirty mattress, was forbidden to write, read, and was not provided with toilet paper," says American lawyer Jared Genser, who was hired by Vardanyan's family, in a statement. (Azerbaijani authorities never allowed him to see his client).
Vardanyan's son Davit said that his father sends letters, but they never arrive.
The family, he said, sometimes manages to talk to him on the phone or send letters through the International Red Cross.
Doctors from "outside" are forbidden to visit Vardanyan, except for one examination immediately after the end of the hunger strike.
