Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Azerbaijani counterpart on the detention of (a) Ruben Vardanyan and (b) Armenian political prisoners in Baku.

The UK Government is aware of the detention of Ruben Vardanyan and other ethnic Armenians as a result of September 2023's military action in Nagorno-Karabakh. We have consistently urged the Azerbaijani authorities, including ahead of COP29, to ensure that those in detention are afforded a fair trial and are provided safe conditions, in accordance with Azerbaijan's international obligations and commitments. We have been consistent in calling for the release of all remaining prisoners of war, and the return of the remains of the deceased, from the conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. British Embassy Baku regularly raises our concerns with the Azerbaijani authorities at senior levels.