Ruben Vardanyan on Hunger Strike for 14 Days

The unlawfully detained philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan's family announced today that Vardanyan has declared a hunger strike, demanding his immediate and unconditional release as well as that of other Armenian prisoners unlawfully held in Baku.

He began the hunger strike on April 5, 2024, following numerous requests from Vardanyan and his lawyer for a timely, fair, and transparent trial in accordance with international legal standards. Notably, after the hunger strike began, his phone calls with family have been cut off, a blatant violation of all norms of international law.

It should be noted that the trial, previously expected in January, has been postponed without reason until May. Last September, Ruben Vardanyan was illegally arrested alongside seven other current and former officials of the Republic of Artsakh, facing fabricated, politically motivated charges. All of them are political prisoners.

“I am deeply concerned about my father's health and condition. We have not seen him for over 200 days. Since April 5, the start of his hunger strike, we have had absolutely no contact with him,” said David Vardanyan, Ruben Vardanyan's eldest son.

Vardanyan's hunger strike coincides with the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, illustrating how Armenians continue to suffer ethnic cleansing and remain targets of persecution.

Vardanyan is a father of four and a prominent businessman, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist. With partners around the world, he has invested over $1.5 billion in economic development, humanitarian initiatives, and global education programs.

From November 2022 to February 2023, Ruben Vardanyan served as the State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh and has been charged with false accusations. The conditions of his detention violate all norms of international law. He is expected to face a trial that will not meet international standards, particularly regarding accessibility for international observers for the trial and procedures.

Moreover, Vardanyan's case has been separated from the cases of the other seven political prisoners, raising questions about his politically targeted status.

“The illegal detention of Ruben and other former leaders of Artsakh is a gross violation of human rights and the international justice system, and it must stop. The irony of the situation is that Azerbaijan, while hosting the UN Climate Change Conference COP 29, shamelessly tries to 'clean up' its international reputation. The COP pays great attention to the interrelation of climate change and human rights, while they clearly abuse both,” stated Paul Polman, Vice President of the UN Global Compact and a member of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Selection Committee.

Ruben Vardanyan’s family demands:

• Immediate and unconditional release of all unlawfully detained Armenian prisoners, including Ruben Vardanyan.
• If illegal trials take place, they should occur before May, in accordance with global legal standards, and international observers and media must be allowed to participate.
• The Azerbaijani government must immediately grant access to the International Red Cross to assess the situation of Ruben and other prisoners.
• Re-establishment of telephone communication between Ruben Vardanyan and his family.
• Any peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan must include the release of all Armenian prisoners.
• COP 29 should not take place in Azerbaijan without the implementation of the aforementioned steps.