On February 19, Ruben Vardanyan went on hunger strike in protest against the show trials. A few days later, his lawyer announced that Vardanyan's life was in danger. Recently, Azerbaijani media outlets published photos from the businessman’s trial, showing visible injuries on his body. During the same hearing, his condition worsened. Regarding this issue, Siranush Sahakyan, head of the Center for International and Comparative Law, answered questions from NEWS.am.
"The international standards are very clear here: when a person, healthy and without injuries, ends up in the hands of state representatives, the state is responsible for those injuries and must provide an explanation for the cause of those injuries," said the human rights defender.
"In the case of individuals in detention, the presumption of torture applies until the state, beyond reasonable doubt and within the evidentiary threshold, denies the fact that it has subjected the person to torture. Here, it is evident that there are traces of violence. I should note that there is another guarantee in the judicial process: if an individual showing signs of torture appears in court, the court is obliged to demand an investigation into these circumstances by the prosecuting authorities, and national legislation requires an independent investigation to be initiated regarding the causes of the injuries," stated Sahakyan.
She added that the court hearing took place and there is no information that Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies are attempting to investigate the cause of the injuries. "It becomes clear here that under pressure and torture, there is also a practice of extracting statements and testimony."
Sahakyan mentioned that human rights defenders will issue a joint statement, which will also be addressed to international organizations, and work is being done with international journalists.
"However, I believe that these facts should be presented to international judicial and quasi-judicial bodies that discuss issues related to Armenian prisoners of war. The Republic of Armenia should also play a certain role in this matter," said Sahakyan.