Vicken Euljekjian (Vigen Euljekchyan, Vigen Eoljekchian), who is being unlawfully held in a Baku prison, made a short phone call to his family on November 16 after a 45-day communication ban.
Euljekjian said that he can no longer walk, his physical condition has sharply deteriorated, and he needs a wheelchair, which has not been provided. This was reported by his wife, Linda Eoljekchian, and his lawyer, María Luciana Minassian, on the X microblogging platform.
Vicken was taken to a doctor, but he was not given any medication, and no treatment has been provided.
The statement by his wife and lawyer also notes that Euljekjian is surviving only on tea and bread and is deprived of proper nutrition, which they consider to be deliberate deprivation and inhumane treatment.
The statement stresses that the situation is particularly alarming in light of recent public remarks by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who had spoken about “tea in Baku” — something the family interprets as mocking the suffering of Armenian detainees.
According to the family, the described conditions may violate international humanitarian law and the UN Mandela Rules. At the same time, the denial of medical care, food, and a wheelchair poses a serious threat to Euljekjian’s health and life.
His family and lawyer are calling for urgent international intervention, independent medical evaluation, and humanitarian access, involving UN special mechanisms, human rights organizations, and neutral observers.
Vicken Euljekjian, an Armenian from Lebanon, was charged in Azerbaijan four years ago with “mercenarism,” “terrorism,” and “illegal crossing of Azerbaijan’s state border.”
On November 10, 2020, he and Maral Najarian were captured by Azerbaijani military forces. Najarian was later released.
Due to the severe socio-economic crisis in Lebanon, Vicken Euljekjian moved to Yerevan in 2019 and later to Shushi. He has been a citizen of Armenia since 2015.