The wife of an Armenian man detained in Azerbaijan has issued a desperate plea, stating her husband has been on a hunger strike for twenty days and is being denied medical care.
In an interview, Linda Euljekjyan reported that her husband, Vigen, is suffering from unbearable pain and requires urgent medical attention, which Azerbaijani authorities are allegedly refusing to provide. She expressed grave concern for his life, stating, “I am losing my husband. His life is in danger.”
The last time she saw him was several months ago through a brief, monitored video call, during which he was already visibly ill. “Imagine what condition he will be in after a hunger strike?” she said.
Euljekjyan called for her husband’s immediate release, questioning why prisoners are still being held after the signing of a peace agreement. “If the war is over, why are they waiting?” she asked.
She made a direct appeal to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other world leaders for intervention. “We are a broken family,” she stated. “My request is to all leaders: please help me. I will soon lose my mother; I do not want to lose my husband.”
Vigen Euljekjyan was captured in 2020 near Shushi, one day after a ceasefire was announced. He was traveling with another individual, Maral Najaryan, to retrieve personal belongings from a hotel. They were arrested by Azerbaijani soldiers. A Baku court later sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Najaryan was released in March 2021.
