The Armenian Human Rights Defender’s (Ombudsperson) Office has called on all actors vested with respective mandates to take swift and proper measures to address the processes taking place against unlawfully detained Armenians in Azerbaijan, Armenpress reports.

The ombudsperson’s office made the remarks as multiple Armenian POWs are facing mock trials in Azerbaijan. Ex-Karabakh official Ruben Vardanyan, one of the many prisoners, has announced a hunger strike and has been reported as feeling unwell.

“As a result of monitoring of social media we received concerning information about the deterioration of Ruben Vardanyan’s health and torture. The Human Rights Defender has numerously spoken about not only the fact that the processes taking place against the unlawfully detained Armenians in Azerbaijan being simply contentious, but that it is taking place in gross violation of universal principles and values of human rights and international legal standards. In relation to the situation, under the instruction of Ombudsperson Anahit Manasyan, the ombudsperson’s staff implemented and continue to implement respective steps within their jurisdiction,” the Human Rights Defender’s Office said.

It added that other details will not be disclosed given the issue’s sensitivity and the importance of working with the principle of “do no harm.”

“We emphasize that all actors having the mandate in the sector must take swift and proper steps to address the issue,” the office said.