Ruben Vardanyan`s arrest clear message to Armenians - David Vardanyan 

ArmInfo. In a heartfelt and compelling video, David Vardanyan, the son of Armenian humanitarian and former Minister of State of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan, has  shared an emotional account of his father's journey, values, and  arrest by Azerbaijani authorities. Ruben Vardanyan has been detained  in Baku since September 27, 2023, following a military offensive  launched by Azerbaijan against the indigenous Armenian population of  Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, according to The Armenian  Report.  

"I'm worried for my father, but I'm also worried for all the  Armenians who are being held in Baku."

David opens the video by highlighting his father's transformation  from a highly successful businessman into a dedicated humanitarian.  For over 15 years, Ruben Vardanyan has poured his resources and  energy into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (known to Armenians as  Artsakh), focusing on educational initiatives, humanitarian aid, and  efforts to bolster the Armenian community. 

In 2022 Ruben made a bold decision: he would move to Nagorno-Karabakh  to support its 120,000 residents, who were facing mounting economic,  political, and security challenges. Despite the risks, he joined the  community as one of them, briefly serving as Nagorno-Karabakh's  Minister of State for three months before returning to humanitarian  work. David recalls this transition as a defining moment for his  father. "He wasn't just a businessman or politician," he says, "but  someone determined to make a difference, no matter the personal  cost."

"I think it was a very clear message that was sent to all the  Armenian people, with the arrest of someone like my father, Ruben,  that no Armenian is safe, and that this can happen to all of you."

David reflects on a conversation he had with his father, in which  Ruben shared his philosophy on life. "We all have three choices when  faced with difficulty," Ruben had told him: "to isolate ourselves and  run away, to adapt and accept the circumstances, or to try to change  even the most impossible of situations and act according to our  values." Ruben, David says, always chose the third path, a choice  that ultimately brought him to Nagorno-Karabakh during one of the  region's darkest times.

"We need to speak more about the political prisoners, and I think  that the next step we must take now is to put more pressure on  Azerbaijan."

For over a year, Ruben Vardanyan dedicated himself to the people of  Nagorno-Karabakh, remaining among them despite increasing hardship.  Fuel and electricity were scarce, forcing the community to adapt in  creative ways. Ruben managed to bring in an electric car powered by  solar panels, which he used to transport pregnant women to medical  facilities. Thanks to his efforts, many Armenian children were born  despite the conditions.

"It's the call to action that we must respond to."

David expressed immense pride in his father, saying, "It was  undoubtedly a difficult time, but I feel immensely proud of my father  for having the courage to do what he believes was right and for  standing up for a minority group abandoned by much of the world."  Ruben's presence, he added, gave strength and hope to a population  struggling against near-impossible odds.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a new military offensive  against Nagorno-Karabakh. For months, Armenians in the region had  endured extreme food shortages and restricted access to basic  resources due to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only route  connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Facing overwhelming odds, the  resistance in Nagorno-Karabakh quickly collapsed.

"We all know what's happening is concretely against international  norms and standards, and we need to show Azerbaijan that such  behavior cannot be tolerated, especially if the country wants to  position itself on the international stage."

Amid the chaos of the population's exodus through the Lachin  Corridor, Ruben Vardanyan was detained by Azerbaijani border police.  David explains that Ruben was among the first to be arrested, but  others soon followed, including three former presidents of  Nagorno-Karabakh. The total number of Armenian detainees held in  Azerbaijan remains unclear, heightening the anguish of families and  communities in Armenia and abroad.

In his video, David describes his father's detention as a chilling  message to Armenians everywhere: "No Armenian is safe, and this can  happen to all of you." Ruben's arrest is viewed as part of a broader  strategy by Azerbaijan to intimidate the Armenian people, undermining  the morale of those who have endured the trauma of conflict and  displacement.

The current humanitarian crisis facing Armenians from  Nagorno-Karabakh has only intensified since Ruben's arrest. Thousands  of Armenians have been forced to flee their ancestral homeland,  seeking refuge in Armenia after Azerbaijan's invasion.

David appeals to the international community for support, urging  governments and human rights organizations to apply pressure on  Azerbaijan to release his father and others detained under  questionable circumstances. "We need to speak more about political  prisoners," he insists, urging global stakeholders to hold Azerbaijan  accountable for actions that violate international norms and  standards.

As he concludes his message, David reflects on the legacy his father  has created through his work and his sacrifice. Although he hopes for  his father's swift return, he believes that Ruben's actions and  choices are not in vain. "What's happening to him, and the journey  he's going through, has not been in vain," he states, hoping that  Ruben's arrest will fuel broader support for Armenia and the Armenian  people.