- The Buenos Aires chapter of SOAR sent an open letter to the ICRC.
- Armenian POW Vicken Euljeckjian has been on hunger strike for over 15 days.
- He seeks a single phone call with his wife, Linda.
- The letter states ICRC access to detainees has been blocked by Azerbaijan.
- SOAR calls for immediate action to restore oversight and aid delivery.
Open letter from SOAR calls for urgent Red Cross intervention
The Buenos Aires chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) has sent an urgent appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), demanding immediate action to restore access and communication rights for Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan.
The letter centers on the case of Vicken Euljeckjian, an Armenian prisoner of war held since 2020, who has been on a hunger strike for over 15 days. His request is simple: one phone call to his wife, Linda. That request, according to SOAR, continues to be denied.
Letter to ICRC from Buenos Aires chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR)
Vicken Euljeckjian, an Armenian prisoner of war held in Azerbaijan since 2020, has been waging a silent but deeply painful protest through a hunger strike that has lasted over 15 days. pic.twitter.com/H9bBmSxSD9
— Luciana Minassian 🇦🇲🇺🇦 (@MinassianOk) May 8, 2025
Violation of international law and humanitarian obligations
As outlined in the Geneva Conventions, prisoners of war are entitled to regular communication with their families and to receive essential care packages. SOAR reports that Azerbaijani authorities have blocked Red Cross access to the detention facility, cutting prisoners off from the outside world and oversight mechanisms.
Family anguish and emotional toll
The letter notes that, since February 21, even civilian Armenian detainees have been denied family contact. Loved ones live in agonizing uncertainty, unsure of the detainees’ safety or even survival. The psychological toll, SOAR writes, is immeasurable.
Call for immediate humanitarian response
SOAR representatives Luciana Minassian (President), Carolina Ouzcouchian (Vice President), and Iman Arouss Euljeckjian (Vicken’s wife) signed the letter, calling on the ICRC to act urgently. They emphasize that communication is not a privilege but a legal and moral obligation that must be restored without delay.
Source: Open letter by SOAR Buenos Aires Chapter to the International Committee of the Red Cross