Ruben Vardanyan's Son Reports No Information on Father's Health Since April 5

David Vardanyan, the son of Ruben Vardanyan, has stated that he has had no information about his father since the beginning of April. He made this announcement in an interview with the French publication LE FIGARO.

David revealed that both he and his mother have been prohibited from any contact since early April. He learned about his father's hunger strike only yesterday from a Russian lawyer.

“Since April 5, we have had absolutely no information about his health condition. This is causing us great concern. My father is 55 years old, and he has been deteriorating in a Baku prison for 200 days, after he, like the entire population of Artsakh, spent nearly ten months in blockade,” said David Vardanyan.

He indicated that Ruben Vardanyan is also unable to communicate with other political figures from Artsakh who are in detention. David is convinced that they are in the same prison but cannot see or speak with each other.

According to David, the International Red Cross has also been unable to visit Ruben Vardanyan. He expressed hope that representatives from European governments, starting with France, will be able to visit soon and examine the conditions of detention and health situation of his father and other detained officials from Artsakh.

“This needs to be done as quickly as possible. While there is still time,” he stated.

Regarding the trial that was supposed to take place in January, David Vardanyan informed that it has been postponed until May. He now believes there is a high probability that the trial will be delayed again.

“There is no doubt that the reason is that Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies are unable to gather evidence against the fabricated charges against him—financing terrorism, creating illegal or armed groups, and illegally crossing the border of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” he noted.

It is worth mentioning that today it became known that Ruben Vardanyan, a benefactor and businessman, as well as the former Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, had begun a hunger strike since April 5 while being held in a Baku prison. The International Committee of the Red Cross announced that they cannot release information about Armenians held in Baku.