Washington Post article calls on Trump to act on Vardanyan case

PanARMENIAN.Net - David Ignatius, a columnist for The Washington Post, has written about the trial of Ruben Vardanyan, the former State Minister of Artsakh, who remains imprisoned in Baku. He emphasized that Vardanyan is a political prisoner in Azerbaijan and faces the risk of life imprisonment. According to Ignatius, his case deserves far more attention.

"U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to defend Armenian Christians. He can start with Ruben Vardanyan," Ignatius wrote.

The columnist noted that Nagorno-Karabakh, now under Azerbaijani control, once had an autonomous status and was predominantly inhabited by Armenians. He recalled that in September 2023, following Azerbaijan’s military offensive, nearly 120,000 Armenians were forced to flee their homes.

"Ruben Vardanyan is on trial in Azerbaijan. What is his crime? Helping others?" Ignatius questioned. "With so much suffering in the world, individual cases can go unnoticed. But I want to highlight the fate of a political prisoner standing trial in Azerbaijan, facing life imprisonment, whose case deserves greater attention."

Ignatius explained that Vardanyan’s support for Karabakh Armenians led to charges against him in Azerbaijan, including allegations of terrorism. He detailed that Vardanyan was arrested while attempting to cross into Armenia.

The article also outlines Vardanyan’s background, describing him as a businessman who invested his wealth in education and humanitarian projects. Ignatius highlighted that Vardanyan founded the UWC Dilijan College and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, which honors individuals worldwide for their selfless humanitarian work.

"Aurora's motto is 'Gratitude in Action.' Vardanyan’s idea was to honor those who help others today, just as righteous people helped his great-grandfather, Hamayak Vardanyan, survive the 1915 Armenian Genocide," Ignatius reminded.

He added that this case is not just a journalistic subject for him—it is personal.

"I must clarify that I am not a neutral observer in Vardanyan’s case. He has been my friend for a decade, and since 2016, I have voluntarily hosted the annual Aurora Prize ceremony. This is personal. My father’s family is Armenian, and by supporting Aurora, I wanted to express my gratitude to those who saved my ancestors during the Ottoman era," Ignatius wrote.

According to the article, Azerbaijani authorities have charged Vardanyan with 46 offenses, but the real reason for his prosecution is his decision to move to Karabakh in 2022 and take on the role of State Minister.

Ignatius also cited a representative of Amnesty International, who stated that Vardanyan’s case exemplifies human rights violations, including torture, forced confessions, and denial of legal defense.

Vardanyan’s lawyer, Jared Genser, condemned the trial, calling it a political show.

"This trial is a political show. The reason behind it is his support for the political rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.

The article concludes with Trump’s statement from October 23, 2024:

"When I return to the presidency, I will protect persecuted Christians, work to end violence and ethnic cleansing, and restore peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan."

Ignatius added: "Now, Mr. President, you have the opportunity to fulfill that promise—by helping a decent man avoid persecution."

On January 16, Ruben Vardanyan stated that since his arrest, he has refused to provide any testimony beyond his name. He asserted that all documents signed in his name were falsified and confirmed that he, his lawyer, and his translator have been subjected to pressure.