The UN Committee Against Torture has expressed serious concern over the ongoing detention of 23 Armenians in Baku, according to a statement by Armenia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
The concern remains pressing due to the absence of involvement from international bodies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which hampers oversight of the detainees' condition and rights.
During an interactive dialogue held within the 80th session of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, Armenia reiterated its absolute and universal commitment to eradicating torture and all forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
The Armenian delegation highlighted credible reports of torture in detention centers and in conflict settings, often driven by political motives — a clear violation of international law.
Referring to the Committee’s latest conclusions, Armenia stressed the continued relevance and urgency of concerns regarding the detainees, especially as their rights, safety, and dignity remain at risk without international oversight, including that of the ICRC.
On October 14, Aram Sargsyan, a member of the Coordinating Council of the Together civic-political movement, criticized the UN outside its Yerevan office. He claimed the organization, through a February 17 decision, effectively legitimized Azerbaijan’s detention of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan and other Armenian prisoners. He also alleged that Hanna Yudkivska, chair of the relevant UN working group, has close ties to the Azerbaijani state-owned energy company SOCAR.
