David Vardanyan Releases Statement on His Father Ruben Vardanyan

David Vardanyan, the son of Ruben Vardanyan, has released a statement marking one year since the arbitrary detention of his father, a well-known businessman and philanthropist by Azerbaijani authorities. The statement reads: “Today marks one year since Azerbaijani authorities arbitrarily arrested my father, Ruben Vardanyan. Following his arrest, other leaders from Artsakh, including former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, former parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former foreign minister Davit Babayan, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, and former deputy commander Davit Manukyan, were also detained.

“The arbitrary imprisonment of my father, without any proof or a fair trial, is a blatant violation of international norms and laws,” David Vardanyan stated. “We call on the international community to intensify efforts to secure his immediate and unconditional release alongside other Armenian leaders unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan.”

Despite numerous calls for the release of Armenian prisoners from the European Parliament, the French Senate, the UK Houses of Commons and Lords, and leaders in the US Congress, business circles, and community leaders, Ruben Vardanyan remains in pretrial detention without even a designated trial date or official charges against him.

“Keeping someone in detention for a year without trial or concrete evidence signifies the political nature of this case,” noted Jared Genser, an international human rights lawyer representing the Vardanyan family. “Azerbaijan must respect its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and immediately release Ruben Vardanyan.”

Ruben Vardanyan briefly held the position of State Minister of Artsakh and has been a strong critic of Azerbaijan for its brutal treatment of the Artsakh Armenian population and violations of international law.