Veronika Zonabend: This is a matter of a fundamental human right — to  know what is happening to those we love and be able to send them  words of support

ArmInfo. Veronika Zonabend, wife of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, announced that she has initiated an international women's  humanitarian delegation to Baku to visit Armenian detainees.

To that end, she had addressed open letters to The Human Rights Commissioner  of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President of the International  Committee of the Red Cross, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,  and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs  and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, requesting diplomatic attention and  possible assistance from European institutions.

"As part of the preparation for an international women's humanitarian  delegation to Baku to visit Armenian detainees, I have sent open  letters to international and governmental bodies whose engagement may  be essential to organising the visit and ensuring the safety of its  participants.  The purpose of this initiative remains exclusively  humanitarian: to meet with the Human Rights Commissioner of the  Republic of Azerbaijan, to visit Armenian citizens held in  Azerbaijan, and to deliver to them letters, photographs, and  permitted personal items from their families.  This is why I believe  it is important to act openly — through official and diplomatic  channels.  Of particular importance is the predictability and  coherence of every stage of the potential visit: entry into  Azerbaijan, access to the detainees, and the safe return home of all  participants. It is essential for the participants and their families  to understand that this initiative is being prepared in an official  framework and with the necessary guarantees, so that the visit does  not pose a risk to anyone's life or safety.

To that end, I have addressed open letters to the following:  • The  Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina  Aliyeva — requesting her support in organising the visit under the  auspices of her office and in creating the conditions necessary for  it to take place; • The President of the International Committee of  the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger — requesting that the ICRC  consider ways to support, advise, or participate in the visit within  the scope of its mandate; • The Prime Minister of the Republic of  Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan — requesting coordination and practical  support from the Government of Armenia; • The High Representative of  the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja  Kallas — requesting diplomatic attention and possible assistance from  European institutions.

For those held in prolonged detention, an initiative of this kind  carries profound significance. Their condition, the conditions of  their detention, and their connection to their families must not be  left unaddressed or left to depend solely on closed and irregular  mechanisms.  This is a matter of a fundamental human right — to know  what is happening to those we love, to be able to send them words of  support, and to let them know they have not been forgotten,” her  statement reads.