During this entire period, no independent mechanism for the prevention of torture has had the opportunity to enter, visit the Armenians held in Baku and objectively record the conditions of their detention, physical or psychological condition. Human rights activist Siranush Sahakyan, the lawyer representing the interests of the Armenian captives in Azerbaijan at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), said this during a panel discussion Thursday on Armenian prisoners of war being held in the prisons of Azerbaijani capital Baku.

Sahakyan noted that the only organization whose activities have already come under threat in Baku is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The ICRC employees visit these captives every six weeks, but this timeframe is often changed during the pre-holiday days, within the framework of organizing of respective events.

“Azerbaijan constantly uses these factors, and postpones the planned regular visits. The Red Cross representatives record the conditions, but the recorded problems are not subject to being publicized. Only partial information about them may be available to family members. The recorded problems are confidentially transmitted to the Azerbaijani authorities, with the expectation that they will be resolved. In this regard, there are no noticeable changes to us.

As for physical, psychological violence, practices that insult, debase the dignity of Armenians, we do not observe any changes in this regard. Moreover, amid certain developments, we can see an intensification of these manifestations," the human rights activist noted.

Sahakyan argued that Armenians in Azerbaijani prisons have been and continue to be held in inhumane conditions and are subjected to such pressures that qualify as torture by assessing their intensity and the nature of the pain caused.

The human rights activist noted that the ICRC is not considered a torture prevention body in the classical sense.

“Permissible mechanisms for the prevention of torture are being considered, for example, lawyers, independent doctors. And in this regard as well, no independent lawyer has ever had the opportunity to visit any Armenian [captive in Azerbaijan]. Only Azerbaijani lawyers have made used of the visits. International lawyers have been denied entry. We have conducted several experiments. For example, we have applied, presenting our recognition by the ECtHR, have asked to be given the opportunity to visit our clients. It is clear that this opportunity was not given,” Sahakyan said.