Entire Armenian people convicted in person of Ruben Vardanyan -  family

ArmInfo. The family of former Artsakh State Minister and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan responded to the Baku puppet court's verdict against the head of  their family. He had been held in Baku since late September 2023.

We present the Vardanyan family's statement in full, without any  abbreviations or changes. "Today we learned that Ruben  Vardanyan-beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather-has been  sentenced to 20 years in prison. The verdict, handed down by a  military court in Azerbaijan, was horrific, but expected.  Since  Ruben's unfounded detention 874 days ago, it has become clear that  the outcome of this trial is predetermined. Throughout his detention,  no evidence has been presented for any of the charges brought against  him.

Throughout this time, Ruben has been deprived of any guarantees of  due process, access to genuine, not merely formal, legal  representation, access to international lawyers, and the ability for  independent media to attend the hearings.

The hearings were held behind closed doors and under conditions  incompatible with fair trial standards, not only under international  law, but even under Azerbaijani law.

Despite attempts to destroy Ruben's reputation as a humanitarian,  philanthropist, and Social entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and  international observers have provided our family with support that  has given us strength and hope.

Everyone who knows Ruben personally or has interacted with him  professionally understands the absurdity and inconsistency of the  charges against him. This wasn't just Ruben and the Armenian  prisoners who were tried; the entire Armenian nation was sentenced.

We will continue to seek the release of Ruben and the Armenian  prisoners held on politically motivated grounds, and we call on world  leaders, international organizations, and human rights groups to take  all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law, to  ensure their freedom and protect their rights.

Today, it was announced that a puppet Baku court sentenced Vardanyan  to 20 years in prison.

As a reminder, Vardanyan and seven other former and current Artsakh  officials have been held in Azerbaijani captivity since late  September 2023, in violation of all international law. The  international community ignores the fact that Artsakh officials are  in Azerbaijani captivity.

It is worth noting that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war  and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts  estimate the number to be several hundred. Today, Azerbaijani  authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians in their custody.  Those held captive by Azerbaijan include former Artsakh presidents  Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and 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 early February, a Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan,  Davit Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Levon  Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, while Bako  Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison.  The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up  to 15 years in prison.