Overwhelming International Support and
Pressure Leads Azeris to Allow Communications With Family After
Twenty Days in Isolation as Humanitarian and Business Leader Faces
Deteriorating Health
YEREVAN,
Armenia, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Family
members confirmed that thanks to the growing international public
and government awareness, illegally detained philanthropist,
Ruben Vardanyan, was granted
permission to speak to his wife, Veronika, today. This marks only
his second call to his family after nearly three weeks of
incommunicado detention since Mr. Vardanyan launched his hunger
strike on April 5.
The strike began on April 5, 2024,
after requests were repeatedly ignored for a fair and transparent
trial to be held in a timely manner in line with international
legal standards. His trial was originally slated for January, but
then extended to May without cause.
The family was finally able to plead with Mr. Vardanyan to end
the hunger strike in light of his deteriorating health condition.
In their brief conversation they were able to inform him of the
growing pressure on Azerbaijan
from government officials around the world. After hearing of this
global movement to free Armenian prisoners and after listening to
his family's pleas, Mr. Vardanyan reluctantly agreed to pause his
hunger strike for his family's sake.
In recent weeks several initiatives were undertaken, including
the United States Congress putting forth proposed legislation to
sanction high level officials from Azerbaijan government for the illegal
detainment of political prisoners, as well as the EU Parliament
resolution introduced today, April
25. In addition, rallies of support to release the political
prisoners took place yesterday in the U.S., France, and Armenia aligned with recognition of the
109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Vardanyan remains in captivity in Baku and faces worsening prison conditions.
After his hunger strike began, he was denied regular telephone
calls with family, adding to the list of Azerbaijan's violations of international
norms. Mr. Vardanyan was also shifted to complete isolation with no
access to appropriate health care beyond occasional evaluations of
his blood pressure. Serious concerns remain about the true
state of his health condition.
"We are gravely concerned about my father's deteriorating
health, though we are not surprised by his bravery," said
David Vardanyan, one of Mr.
Vardanyan's sons. "Despite our initial relief, my father's
conditions are only worsening. The world has shown Azerbaijan that it is watching the fate of the
Armenian prisoners, including my father, and from our family I want
to thank everyone for their support at this difficult time. I hope
that this growing international attention may lead to his release
in the nearest future. We urge the international community to
further increase the pressure on Azerbaijan to ensure that at least his trial
takes place in May 2024 with
international observers."
The State Department's annual Human Rights Report, released on
April 23, corroborated the unjust
conditions that Mr. Vardanyan and other political prisoners and
detainees face in Azerbaijan. The
report on Azerbaijan estimated
that the country held approximately 254 political prisoners and
detainees as of December 2023. The
judiciary was also described as largely corrupt, inefficient, and
lacking independence. According to the report, defendants in
Azerbaijan were often "denied the
right to a presumption of innocence; a fair, timely, and public
trial; to communicate with an attorney of their choice; to have
adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense; to confront
witnesses and present one's own witnesses and evidence; and not be
compelled to testify or confess guilt."
Mr. Vardanyan is one of eight former officials arrested last
September when armed forces of the Azerbaijani government invaded
the Nagorno-Karabakh region, triggering the mass exodus of the
120,000 inhabitants. Now more than 200 days later, the eight
Armenian leaders face a series of politically motivated
charges.
Mr. Vardanyan is a well-known Armenian philanthropist and
businessman, a father of four and a loving husband who has been
illegally detained for over 200 days.
He is now charged with false accusations and held in poor
conditions. His trial is not expected to adhere to international
standards, including those that ensure international observers are
granted access to the proceedings. Mr. Vardanyan's case is also
separated from the other seven political prisoners, prompting
questions about whether he is being politically singled
out.
For additional information, visit
www.freearmenianprisoners.com
CONTACT:
Jere Sullivan, Edelman Global
Advisory
Jere.sullivan@edelmanega.com
+1 (202) 425-9056
Free Armenian Prisoners
contact@freearmenianprisoners.com
www.FreeArmenianPrisoners.com
#FreeArmenianPrisoners @RubenVardanyan
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/armenian-political-prisoner-ruben-vardanyan-granted-permission-to-speak-with-family-who-plea-for-end-to-his-hunger-strike-302127936.html
SOURCE Free Armenian Prisoners