The Armenian government has expressed its readiness to hold a meeting—through the department in charge—with Veronika Zonabend, the wife of former Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) state minister and well-known businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, who is being held illegally in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

In response to Armenian News-NEWS.am's written request, the Armenian executive branch of power reported that contact had been established with Ms. Zonabend and the contact details of the relevant official had been provided to hold the meeting at a convenient time for her.

On July 8, Veronika Zonabend had written an open letter to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, informing him of her intention to travel to Baku as part of an international women's humanitarian delegation.

On July 15, Armenian News-NEWS.am had applied in writing to the Armenian government to find out whether they were going to assist Ms. Zonabend and the aforesaid international delegation in implementing that initiative.

In addition, considering that the International Committee of the Red Cross had last visited the Armenian prisoners and hostages being held in Baku in December of last year, Armenian News-NEWS.am had asked also whether the Armenian government was planning to appeal to international partners or take concrete steps to restore regular humanitarian contact with the Armenians being held in Azerbaijan, contact with their families, and their visits by international human rights organizations.

Responding to the inquiry on Wednesday, the Armenian government stated that it was aware of the issues raised by Veronika Zonabend in her open letter.

“Given their sensitivity, the Government has expressed willingness to organize a meeting with Ms. Zonabend through the department in charge to address the issues raised, as well as to present the steps and actions being taken to return our compatriots being held in custody in the Republic of Azerbaijan, protect their rights. At the same time, we also inform that contact has been established with Ms. Zonabend, the contact details of the person in the relevant department have been transferred in order to organize a meeting at a convenient time for her,” the response sent to Armenian News-NEWS.am reads.

To note, the “relevant department” mentioned in the response is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.