Representatives of Artsakh Union, led by the organization’s president Artak Beglaryan, on Thursday held a demonstration in front of the Government building of the Republic of Armenia. During the demonstration, they handed over to the Government a box containing 1,254 letters addressed to Armenians unlawfully held in Azerbaijani captivity, together with an official petition addressed to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Artsakh Union informed.

Speaking to the press in front of the Government building, Artak Beglaryan noted that the letters were collected as part of a humanitarian initiative by Veronika Zonabend, the wife of captive Ruben Vardanyan, and that people from many countries around the world responded to her call. The Azerbaijani side did not respond to Ms. Zonabend’s appeals, and the Government of Armenia took no practical steps to organize the visit of the women who had joined the initiative. Therefore, with Ms. Zonabend’s consent, Artsakh Union is handing the letters over to the Government of Armenia so that they can be delivered to the prisoners.

Artak Beglaryan stressed that the Armenian authorities have obligations toward the captive Armenians and citizens of the Republic of Armenia, and that they are in direct contact with the Azerbaijani side. For these reasons, he said, they must take every possible measure to ensure that these letters reach the prisoners.

The full text of the petition addressed to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia is presented below:

"I am writing to you with a humanitarian request: to deliver the 1,254 letters addressed to all Armenians (citizens of the Republic of Armenia) held in Azerbaijani captivity, which are submitted in one box as an attachment to this petition.

Veronika Zonabend, the wife of captive Ruben Vardanyan, launched a humanitarian initiative with the aim of visiting all Armenian prisoners. As part of this initiative, she called for one thousand letters to be collected for the prisoners. People from many countries around the world responded, and as a result 1,254 letters were collected, addressed to all Armenians unlawfully imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The letters are personal and humanitarian in nature and contain words of support, solidarity, and hope.

Unfortunately, the initiative has not yet achieved its goal. The Azerbaijani side has not responded to Ms. Zonabend's appeals, and the Government of the Republic of Armenia has taken no practical steps to organize the visit of the women who joined the initiative. Considering these circumstances and the fact that the visit has not taken place, and having obtained Ms. Zonabend's consent, Artsakh Union has decided to hand over the collected letters to the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

You and many other representatives of the Armenian authorities have repeatedly stated that the return of the prisoners and the protection of their rights are a matter of daily attention. The Government of the Republic of Armenia currently maintains direct contact with the Azerbaijani side, including at the level of mutual visits. We therefore expect that you will find the means or channel (bilateral contacts, official visits, or mediation by the International Committee of the Red Cross or another third party) through which these letters will reach their addressees.

For a person deprived of liberty, a letter is a vital link to the outside world and proof that their fate has not been forgotten. The right of persons deprived of liberty, and of captives in particular, to correspondence is enshrined in international humanitarian law and human rights norms. These include Article 71 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August 1949 and Rule 58 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).

In view of the above, and of the obligations of the Armenian authorities toward captive citizens of the Republic of Armenia, I request that you:

1. Accept the attached 1,254 letters and take all possible measures to ensure their delivery to all Armenians held in Azerbaijani captivity;

2. Appoint a responsible person with whom matters related to the delivery of the letters can be coordinated;

3. Inform me in writing of the outcome of the consideration of this petition, as well as of the progress and final result of the delivery of the letters.

This petition is submitted pursuant to Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Petitions." I request a written response within the time limit set by Article 10(1) of that Law, namely within one month of receipt of the petition. Should the matter raised in this petition fall within the competence of another body, I ask that the box of letters not be returned, but forwarded together with the petition to the competent body, and that I be notified of this in writing.

I also ask that receipt of the box of letters be documented with a handover certificate, or by noting the registration date, number, and signature of the receiving official on a copy of the petition.

I am confident that this humanitarian step can be of great significance for the prisoners and their families."