Veronika Zonabend offers to travel to Baku to assist Armenian hostages

Veronika Zonabend, wife of imprisoned Armenian philanthropist and former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, has appealed to Armenia’s National Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan to facilitate humanitarian aid for Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan.

Zonabend expressed her willingness to travel to Baku alongside Simonyan to meet with hostages and deliver letters from their families. She requested that Simonyan meet with families prior to any potential trip to gather their requests and ensure the hostages feel connected to their loved ones.

In response to her proposal, Azerbaijani media outlets have warned that Zonabend could face up to five years in prison if she enters the country. These reports suggest she could be prosecuted for an alleged illegal entry into Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022. Analysts suggest this coverage may serve as a deterrent to discourage her from traveling to Baku.