Aznavour Foundation calls to stop Ruben Vardanyan persecution

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Aznavour Foundation and several Armenian organizations have called for urgent action to end the harsh treatment of Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of Artsakh, who was captured in Baku.

The foundation urged the international community to demand justice for all Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war illegally held in Azerbaijan.

Additionally, they called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the mistreatment of Vardanyan and the violations of his right to a fair trial, with access for independent international observers and legal representatives. This step aims to pressure Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations and end the political persecution of Armenian citizens.

"We appeal to the international community. As major organizations of the Armenian diaspora and NGOs operating in the Republic of Armenia, we, the undersigned, call on you to take immediate action to stop the political persecution of world-renowned Armenian philanthropist and Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan in Azerbaijan.

Having spent 18 months in captivity under horrific conditions and being accused of crimes against the Azerbaijani state, Vardanyan—who stood by the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh during and after the 2020 war—recently declared a hunger strike.

His goal is to highlight the urgent need for international intervention to prevent further violations of his fundamental right to a fair trial under international justice laws. On February 19, 2025, during a brief phone call from Baku prison, Mr. Vardanyan reported Azerbaijan’s blatant violations of due process and international legal standards.

He spoke of his mistreatment in detention, how he was forced to sign fabricated case documents, and denied the right to prepare a legal defense—just a few of Azerbaijan’s tactics aimed at undermining his human rights and securing a predetermined verdict.

Unfortunately, his previous appeals to international organizations and the media regarding human rights violations against Armenian detainees have gone unanswered, leading to even more severe consequences. His current hunger strike is not just a protest but a dire warning: continued silence and inaction will only worsen the plight of Armenian prisoners illegally held by Azerbaijan. We call for a firm stance against Aliyev’s regime to defend justice, human dignity, and the rule of law before it is too late," the statement reads.