Ruben Vardanyan Allowed to Contact Family Members After Two Weeks

Former Artsakh Minister Ruben Vardanyan declared a hunger strike on April 5. This decision was made after numerous requests from Vardanyan and his lawyer for a transparent and fair trial in accordance with international legal standards. Following the start of his hunger strike, family phone calls were suspended.

"For more than two weeks, in isolation without any contact rights, Ruben Vardanyan has been allowed to contact his family for the first time. This happened after an urgent appeal to the international community and after Vardanyan announced the start of his hunger strike," the family stated in a released message.

Vardanyan reported that throughout this time he has been completely isolated, even lacking the opportunity to read. According to family members, only his blood pressure is being measured in prison. At the end of the conversation with his relatives, Vardanyan stated, "I am now more convinced than ever that values and principles are more important than even life."

The philanthropist’s family once again demands that Azerbaijani authorities allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Vardanyan; only then will it be possible to obtain accurate information about his health condition.

It should be noted that Azerbaijani border guards arrested former Artsakh government officials, including Ruben Vardanyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanian, former Deputy Defense Army commander Davit Manukyan, former foreign minister Davit Babayan, National Assembly chairman Davit Ishkhanyan, and former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Araik Harutyunyan at the end of September 2023.