Ruben Vardanyan ends hunger strike, releases message

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ruben Vardanyan, the former State Minister of Artsakh, has announced the end of his hunger strike.

Through his family, he has sent two audio messages—one released today and another scheduled for March 16. He also stated that he will only speak again during the final court session, but only if international representatives are present, according to his office.

In today’s audio message, Vardanyan emphasized that his hunger strike was not just an act of protest but also a way to draw attention to an unfair trial and the overall situation.

“I had several goals for declaring a hunger strike:

To show that there is no real trial, only a staged one; to highlight that it is not just me on trial, but all Armenians and even the state itself; to demonstrate the price one must pay to remain and live in Artsakh instead of leaving,” Vardanyan stated.

The former Artsakh State Minister, currently imprisoned in Baku on fabricated charges, issued an audio message through his family, stressing that he has always acted in line with his moral principles and has never betrayed them, even in the most challenging moments. He has been on a hunger strike for 24 days.

“I knew what I was getting into, and I was prepared for even worse conditions. I am not a victim, and I do not need pity—this was a conscious decision,” he said.