Ruben Vardanyan`s wife donated a collection of paintings to the city of Gyumri.

ArmInfo. Veronika Zonabend, the wife of former Artsakh State Minister and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, who is currently in Azerbaijani custody, donated a collection of paintings to the city of Gyumri.

According to a post on Ruben Vardanyan's supporters' Facebook page, the "War and Peace" collection includes twenty large-format paintings and is part of the "100 Paintings" collection, which features works by renowned Armenian and Russian masters of socialist realism, selected from the private collections of entrepreneurs and philanthropists Ruben Vardanyan, Vladimir Avetisyan, and Vladimir Nekrasov. The collection donated to Gyumri includes works by Belerfon Dalakyan, Viktor Abrahamyan, Alexander Tatarenko, Nikolay Lomakin, and other artists, dedicated to the war, the post-war period, historical memory, and the human experience. These works have been exhibited at numerous international exhibitions. "These paintings, united by a common theme, are part of the '100 Paintings' collection. For Ruben, Gyumri has always been a special city, in whose development he participated through the foundation he founded. In particular, the restoration of Friendship Park, which he initiated, contributed to the development of the urban environment and the support of future generations. I am glad that this collection will complement Gyumri's rich cultural heritage, become part of it, and be presented to the general public," noted Veronika Zonabend.

Deputy Mayor of Gyumri Community Avetis Arakelyan noted that the city gratefully accepts this gift. The works were donated to the Kumayri Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve.

"Our museum's collection has been replenished with a significant collection, and we are grateful to Veronika Zonabend for this generous donation. The paintings will take a worthy place in the museum and will soon be on display for residents and visitors of Gyumri," noted Inga Avagyan, director of the Kumayri Museum-Reserve.

It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown. Experts estimate there are several hundred. Today, Azerbaijani authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians in their custody. Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity are eight former and current representatives of the military-political leadership of Artsakh. These include former presidents of Artsakh; Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, as well as Parliament Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan, and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

In February, the Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison. The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison.