Davit Ishkhanyan has issued a new message from prison in Baku, detailing the continued violations of the rights of the Armenian hostages illegally held in Azerbaijan.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh says the Armenian hostages and their lawyers are still being denied key legal documents in their own cases, while Azerbaijani authorities continue to obstruct their ability to protect their legal interests in Armenia and abroad.

Ishkhanyan also challenges Azerbaijan’s claims that the detainees’ rights are being respected and says the proceedings have turned into “a complete fiasco for Azerbaijan’s judicial system.”

His message also directly targets Armenia’s Human Rights Defender and state authorities over their failure to act, reminding them that the 19 individuals being held in Azerbaijan carry passports of the Republic of Armenia.

Davit Ishkhanyan was illegally taken hostage by Azerbaijan on October 3, 2023, following the forced displacement of Artsakh’s Armenian population, and remains imprisoned in Baku.

The full text of Ishkhanyan’s statement:

“I learned from the Azerbaijani press that Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, a few days ago spoke about the Armenian detainees being held in Azerbaijan, meaning us, and stated that everything is being conducted in accordance with the law, human rights, and international norms; that she holds confidential meetings with us; and that we have no problems.

According to Sabina khanum, everything is normal when it comes to the observance of human rights standards.

Yes, I confirm that over the past three years she has met with us three times, most recently on May 5 of this year, four months ago. At that confidential meeting, we gave her extensive information about violations of our rights and of international law, very openly and clearly, as well as about the problems connected with them. We expected her mediation and support.

We are not ungrateful, and taking this opportunity, I once again want to publicly thank Ms. Sabina for her consideration and for the coffee, tea, sweets and books sent to us. But our problems are not about everyday living conditions. Those are secondary.

I am compelled to raise several questions and address them to Sabina khanum. I am certain she follows the press and will hear my message.

During her meeting with us on May 5 of this year, both in writing and verbally, we asked the ombudsperson to pass the Azerbaijani and Armenian versions of the Baku Military Court’s February 5 verdict to my family, either through my lawyer or through her counterpart in the Republic of Armenia.

I also told her that neither my lawyer nor any of the other defense lawyers had been given the verdict. Incidentally, they still have not. Its release has been blocked.

“I have nothing to do with the Armenian version. I will try to get the Azerbaijani version delivered.” That was her promise.

More than four months have passed, and nothing. My family and I are waiting, Ms. Aliyeva.

Do my family and relatives have the right to know what charges we are being tried on and what verdict has been handed down? The same applies to the families of the others. Is this a violation of rights or established norms, or not?

The lawyers are not being provided with the indictment or the verdict. Is that a violation of rights, or not? We also try to pass on what we have in our possession, but they do not allow us to. They simply create obstacles.

That same day, May 5, I informed the ombudsperson that the February 5 verdict of the Baku Military Court had not been published on any website. She was surprised, wrote a few things down, and then… what?

Four months have likewise passed since that conversation, and seven months since the verdict was handed down. Where has it been published? On the website of Azerbaijan’s judicial system? The justice authorities? The government? Which state institution’s website?

Perhaps you published it on your own website? After all, we are being accused of crimes against humanity. The international community has the right to know whom Azerbaijan is putting on trial, for what, and how.

Is this an international norm, or not? I would say this is pure medievalism.

There is another issue. On May 5, I informed her that since August 22, 2025, neither I nor my friends have been able to grant a power of attorney to our authorized representative in the Republic of Armenia so that he can protect our interests in Armenia and beyond.

And what?

Here too, the ombudsperson was surprised and took notes in order to take action. After all, we explained this to her, and she knows very well that the reason is the artificial obstacles created by Azerbaijani state bodies.

Four months have passed since our meeting, and 13 months since August 2025. Has anything changed in more than a year? Is this a violation of human rights and international law, or not?

Let me also inform the ombudsperson that we have still not received the Baku Court of Appeal’s August 6, 2026 decision. I am referring to the 14-minute court hearing, which representatives of her office also attended.

We still have not received it. They will not provide it, period.

Perhaps they are translating this one into Armenian as well and delaying its delivery under the pretext of translation. Or perhaps the political weather is cloudy. Or perhaps this is not your problem. Perhaps the answer is: “The lawyers are the ones dealing with your rights.”

After the court hearing, we have seen no lawyers, and there is no one to answer our questions.

Incidentally, I asked for the Azerbaijani-language version of the decision, but still, nothing.

And there are many other similar issues concerning our rights and international norms.

And just how accessible is Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner? How is one supposed to contact the Ombudsperson’s Office through its hotline, whether from the detention facility of Azerbaijan’s State Security Service in Baku or from this correctional facility?

It would be better not to speak about that. It would not be proper. Let me put it briefly: there is no way whatsoever.

Dear Sabina khanum, I hope we will soon host you in our hospitable cell.

And now, a few words to the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia and to representatives of the relevant authorities of the Republic of Armenia.

Honorable Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, on May 6 I addressed you remotely with several questions, with certain expectations. Zero result.

I will not repeat the questions. But at the time, I had doubts about your sense of responsibility and your courage. It appears I was not mistaken.

It would not have been difficult for you, by one means or another, to obtain that verdict and indictment and pass them on to my family. At the same time, you would have familiarized yourself with their contents and seen what fabricated and false accusations and formulations have been directed against our people and our state, including issues of honor.

I will not prolong this. I am now inviting you to Azerbaijan’s Umbaki Correctional Facility to meet with us.

I believe such a visit fits entirely within the framework of the current political relations and should present no difficulty whatsoever.

Come and meet the prisoners of the “peace trial.” Your counterpart in the Republic of Azerbaijan will probably accompany you, and you will learn everything, as they say, firsthand.

We are waiting.

At this moment, my message to the relevant authorities and responsible officials of the Republic of Armenia is this:

Demand and obtain the documents called indictments and conclusions, along with the verdicts, concerning those whom the Azerbaijani press describes as “citizens of the Republic of Armenia of Armenian origin.” Examine them yourselves and determine whether they raise issues concerning Armenian statehood and the Armenian state, as well as the rights and honor of the Armenian people.

We have, of course, given and continue to give well-founded, reasoned and dignified responses and explanations to all of this.

Make no mistake: this trial has turned into a complete fiasco for Azerbaijan’s judicial system.

We have said this openly in court. How the dependent and censored press present at the hearings portrays it is another matter.

As the saying goes, the dirt beneath the snow eventually comes to light.

Gentlemen, state officials, the 19 individuals being held in Azerbaijan carry passports of the Republic of Armenia.

Understand this: this is not a matter of our individual honor. It is a matter of honor for all of us. Especially yours.

To put it in everyday language, have some dignity and stand up for your own.

Take an example from foreigners.

Thank you.

Stay strong, everyone”.