In a significant development, Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent Armenian philanthropist and businessman, has been granted permission to speak with his wife, Veronika. This comes after almost three weeks of isolation and detainment without any contact with the outside world. The international community and government pressure have played a crucial role in securing this opportunity for Vardanyan.
Vardanyan embarked on a hunger strike on April 5, 2024, after repeated requests for a fair and transparent trial within the prescribed timelines, in accordance with international legal norms, were ignored. Initially, his court proceedings were scheduled for January but were inexplicably postponed to May.
His family finally had a chance to appeal to Vardanyan to end his hunger strike due to his deteriorating health condition. During their brief conversation, they informed him about the growing global pressure on Azerbaijan from governmental circles. Learning about this worldwide movement for the release of Armenian prisoners and considering the pleas of his loved ones, Vardanyan reluctantly agreed to suspend his hunger strike for the sake of his family.
Over the past few weeks, several initiatives have been undertaken, including the introduction of a bill in the US Congress for sanctions against high-ranking officials from the Azerbaijani government responsible for the illegal detention of political prisoners. Additionally, the European Parliament presented a resolution on April 25. Protest rallies were also held in the United States, France, and Armenia in support of the release of political prisoners, marking the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Vardanyan remains incarcerated in Baku under deteriorating conditions. Since starting his hunger strike, he has been denied regular communication with his family, adding to the list of Azerbaijan’s violations of international norms. He is currently kept in total isolation without access to proper medical care, limited only to periodic blood pressure measurements. There are serious concerns about his true state of health.
“We are deeply concerned about my father’s deteriorating health, although his courage does not surprise us,” said David Vardanyan, one of Ruben Vardanyan’s sons. “The world has shown Azerbaijan that it is closely following the fate of Armenian prisoners, including my father, and on behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time. I hope that this growing international attention will lead to his release in the near future. We urge the international community to exert even greater pressure on Azerbaijan to ensure that his trial takes place in May 2024 with the participation of international observers.”
A recent US State Department report on human rights, published on April 23, confirmed the unfair conditions of Vardanyan’s detention and those of other political prisoners in Azerbaijan. According to the report, as of December 2023, approximately 254 political prisoners were held in the country. The judicial system was described as extensively corrupt, inefficient, and lacking independence. The report highlighted that in Azerbaijan, individuals facing charges are often denied the right to presumption of innocence, fair and timely public trials, communication with a lawyer of their choice, adequate time, and resources for defense preparation, confrontation of witnesses, presenting their own witnesses and evidence, as well as the right to remain silent or refuse to incriminate oneself.
Vardanyan is one of eight former government officials arrested in September of the previous year, when armed forces from the Azerbaijani government invaded Nagorno-Karabakh, causing the mass displacement of 120,000 residents. Now, more than 200 days later, the eight Armenian leaders face a series of politically motivated charges.
Vardanyan, a well-known Armenian philanthropist and businessman, is a father of four and a loving husband who has been unlawfully detained for over 200 days. He now faces false accusations and harsh living conditions. There is no basis to expect a trial that adheres to international norms, including ones that provide access for international observers. Furthermore, Vardanyan’s case is being handled separately from the other seven political prisoners, raising questions about whether he is the target of political persecution.
For more information, visit the website www.freearmenianprisoners.com.
CONTACTS:
Jere Sullivan, Edelman Global Advisory, [email protected], +1 (202) 425-9056
Free Armenian Prisoners, [email protected], www.FreeArmenianPrisoners.com #FreeArmenianPrisoners @RubenVardanyan
The article provides an update on the situation of Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent Armenian philanthropist and businessman who was granted permission to speak with his wife after almost three weeks of isolation and detainment without any contact with the outside world. This development came as a result of international community and government pressure.
It is important to note that Vardanyan embarked on a hunger strike on April 5, 2024, due to the lack of a fair and transparent trial within the prescribed timelines, in accordance with international legal norms. His court proceedings were initially scheduled for January but were inexplicably postponed to May.
One of the key facts mentioned in the article is the introduction of a bill in the US Congress for sanctions against high-ranking officials from the Azerbaijani government responsible for the illegal detention of political prisoners. Additionally, the European Parliament presented a resolution in support of the release of political prisoners. Protest rallies have also been held in the United States, France, and Armenia.
However, despite these efforts, Vardanyan remains incarcerated in Baku under deteriorating conditions. He has been denied regular communication with his family and lacks access to proper medical care. Concerns about his true state of health have been raised.
The article also highlights the unfair conditions of Vardanyan’s detention and those of other political prisoners in Azerbaijan, as described in a recent US State Department report on human rights. The report confirms the extensive corruption, inefficiency, and lack of independence within Azerbaijan’s judicial system.
It is important to understand that Vardanyan is one of eight former government officials arrested in September of the previous year following the invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh by armed forces from the Azerbaijani government. Questions have been raised about whether Vardanyan is being targeted for political persecution, as his case is being handled separately from the other seven political prisoners.
Advantages of the article include providing an update on the situation of Ruben Vardanyan, highlighting the international efforts and pressure for his release, and including information from a recent US State Department report on human rights.
Some disadvantages of the article include not providing a more detailed analysis of current market trends and forecasts regarding the philanthropic or business landscape in Armenia. Additionally, the article does not discuss key challenges or controversies associated with the subject in relation to the current market trends.
For more information, you can visit the website www.freearmenianprisoners.com.