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David Vardanyan: “My father wants to say that the only choice we have is to live in a world without war”

On the first day of the trial, January 17, Ruben Vardanyan asked the court to hold a minute of silence for all victims of the conflict regardless of nationality.

“Despite the situation, despite all the injustices that both he and other Armenians face, my father wants to say that the only choice we have is to live in a world without war, to negotiate and understand each other,” David emphasized.

Ruben Vardanyan’s son also emphasized the importance of international political support. In David’s opinion, the international community must demand from Azerbaijan to make the court open, so that representatives of independent foreign media could attend the sessions. The French authorities must also join the fight, says the son of the philanthropist: Paris must put pressure on Brussels to stop all EU deals with Azerbaijan.

More information: https://verelq.am/ru/node/156145

Eva Merkacheva, member of the Human Rights Council, said that Ruben Vardanyan was being forced to change his lawyer to a state lawyer as part of the trial.

“Taking into account the events of the interstate conflict, the forcible imposition of a public defender from one of the parties on the accused looks ambiguous,” the human rights activist said.

She explained that she considers the state institution of advocacy a strong humanistic initiative, but she opposes the use of this mechanism to legalize the judicial process.

“A person must have a choice: a state lawyer or a non-state lawyer. “A person must have a choice: a state lawyer or a non-state lawyer. And this is especially important, as I think, when it comes to courts, which, both in terms of their content and the attention of the world community attached to it, have an international status,” Merkacheva said.

More information: https://t.me/Merkacheva/3255

Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights in the Russian Federation, said that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could have stood up for Ruben Vardanyan in court. Taking into account his active humanitarian activities in Armenia, the head of state could have taken a more active part in the fate of the social entrepreneur.

“As of today, however, the Armenian authorities have made no effort to protect their citizens. Moreover, the statements of the Armenian Prime Minister suggest that for them it is a matter of political competition rather than a decision of people’s fates,” Merkacheva said.

Before the trial started, Ruben once again declared his innocence and demanded to stop the case. The human rights activist also emphasized that during almost a year and a half of investigation, according to the philanthropist, he did not give any testimony and did not sign protocols.

“He is a civilian, he did not participate in military actions on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and moved to the unrecognized republic already after the end of the conflict’s hot phase in the region,” Merkacheva recalled.

Details: https://ria.ru/20250129/pashinyan-1996074945.html

Siranush Sahakyan: “In 1992 Vardanyan was studying at Moscow State University, how could he participate in the events in Khojaly?”

“I’ve already said that these fabricated trials are also distinguished by numerous absurdities, fictitious stories and invented testimonies. This episode once again proves that the charges are politically motivated. Even if we leave aside the Azerbaijani narrative about the events in Khojaly, which are refuted precisely by the testimony of former Azerbaijani President Mutalibov, it is obvious that during the one and a half year preliminary investigation, the prosecutors did not even bother to at least align the charges with the biographies of political prisoners. For example, it is known from Vardanyan’s biography that at that time he studied at Moscow State University, which he graduated from in 1992,” Sahakyan noted.

Details: https://golosarmenii.am/article/227843/saakyan-v-1992-g–vardanyan-uchilsya-v-mgu–kak-on-mog-uchastvovat-v-%C2%ABsobytiyax-v-xodzhalu%C2%BB

Another court session on fabricated charges against Ruben Vardanyan was held in Baku. Tatev Hayrapetyan, an expert on Azerbaijan and candidate of historical sciences, is sure that this trial is directed against Armenia.

According to her, Azerbaijan is using the issue of captives to turn Armenians against Armenians, and President Ilham Aliyev’s goal is to “ignite a new wave of Armenianophobia in the Azerbaijani society”.

“A carefully designed psychological, hybrid, information warfare is being waged against the Armenian public and the Armenian state. Not only on the part of Azerbaijan, but also on the part of the Armenian authorities,” the expert believes.

Details: https://t.me/YerevanTower/43186

Защитник интересов армян в ЕСПЧ, адвокат Сирануш Саакян рассказала, как проходит судебный процесс над Рубеном Варданяном и другими армянскими пленными. По ее словам, все обвинения полностью сфабрикованы и основная цель процесса – месть руководству Арцаха «за деятельность во имя арцахской государственности».

Также Саакян поделилась информацией из зала суда, которую не публиковали азербайджанские медиа. На первом же заседании Рубен Варданян заявил, что не признаёт себя виновным, и предложил почтить молчанием память всех жертв армяно-азербайджанского конфликта вне зависимости от национальности.

«Затем Варданян заявил два ходатайства: об объединении дел и о предоставлении дополнительного времени для ознакомления с материалами дела. Азербайджанские СМИ сообщили только об этом», – добавила адвокат.

I would like to address the global community, to those who care about what is happening in our region, those opposed to religious persecution worldwide and those who wish for a lasting and genuine peace.

I, Ruben Vardanyan, have been detained at the Detention Center of the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan since September 27, 2023 – more than 470 days in total, including 340 days in solitary confinement and 23 days in a punishment cell. I would like to make an official statement before the start of the trial. If you are reading these words, it means that I have exhausted all other means to convey the truth about what is happening here.

A court hearing of my case is scheduled for January 17 at 3:00 PM. I have been informed that I am facing 42 charges, some of which carry sentences up to life imprisonment. However, I have not been granted the opportunity to fully review the official indictment. My lawyer and I were merely allowed to skim through 422 volumes of the case files, all written solely in the Azerbaijani language, which I do not understand, within a very short timeframe – from December 9, 2024, to January 8, 2025. I only received the list of charges in Russian on January 8, 2025.

Moreover, pressure has been exerted on me, my lawyer, and my interpreter to force us to backdate and sign documents, including falsified protocols and records of interrogations that never took place.

I officially declare: I have given no testimony since the day of my arrest, except during the first interrogation, where I only stated my name and surname. Let me reiterate: all protocols bearing my signature are falsifications. These documents do not exist in reality. My lawyer and interpreter were coerced into signing these documents.

I once again reiterate and state my complete innocence and the innocence of my Armenian compatriots also being held as political prisoners and demand an immediate end to this politically motivated case against us.

Despite our innocence and the political motivation of this trial, it is most likely that the prosecutor will ignore my plea and pursue a trial against us, in which case I demand and ask for your support in ensuring that I am afforded the following:

1. Allow me and my lawyer adequate time and opportunity to prepare for my defense. In particular, provide us with the opportunity to thoroughly review the case materials in a language I understand.
2. Eliminate all procedural violations and falsifications. Specifically, deem inadmissible all falsified documents and records of interrogations that never took place, as I have not provided any testimony since the day of my arrest.
3. Make my trial, and those of the Armenian political prisoners, public. I insist on the most open trial possible, with the participation of international journalists and representatives of humanitarian organizations.
4. Consolidate my case with the cases of the others accused. More than 400 of the 422 volumes in my case concern episodes from the general case of which only 6 are specifically related to false accusations against me. Separating my case into a separate proceeding is an artificial and unfounded decision.

I bear no anger or hatred. On the contrary, I genuinely empathize with all those who violate laws, moral principles, and the teachings of the Quran and other holy texts.

I am convinced that true peace will only be possible when the leaders of the countries involved in the conflict, with the support of their societies, can come together to lay flowers on the graves of all those who perished in this war.

I promise to do everything possible to ensure this happens during my lifetime. As the great Mahatma Gandhi said, the only way to save the world from self-destruction is to live by the principles of nonviolence, truth, and love. Through compassion for all people, regardless of their skin color, nationality, or religion, we can achieve true peace.

Thank you all for your support! I love and thank you all for your kindness toward me. Know that I am standing strong and believe that the truth will prevail.

Ruben Vardanyan

Sputnik Armenia news agency tells about 83-year-old Zhora Sarkisyan from Meghri. He built a house with a garden, which is known far outside the town as Kazakashen. Several years ago, Sarkisyan sold his land to Ruben Vardanyan, who visited the place more than once and agreed to the deal only on one condition: the creator of Kazakashen would continue to live in the house and look after his famous garden.

In the late 1960s, Zhora Sarkisyan moved to Leningrad, where he lived and worked for more than 45 years. But in 2011, he told his children and grandchildren that he wanted to return to his homeland. For a house he chose a place on the high bank of the Araks River. There was a lot of work to be done, but the elderly enthusiast was helped by the builders of the local hospital and the head of the road company. From the local observation deck, the Araks can be seen clearly, which is why tens of thousands of people, including Ruben Vardanyan, have visited Kazakashen since 2011.

Four years ago, Zhora decided to sell Kazakashen and asked for exactly as much as he had invested in the house and garden. Ruben Vardanyan decided to buy this landmark, but on one condition:

“He told me: “As long as you are alive, you are here for the governor-general. If you need anything, tell me at once,” recalls Zhora Sarkisyan.

He adds that he is looking forward to Ruben Vardanyan’s visit with great awe and is already building a gazebo for him in the most beautiful corner of the garden.

Details: https://am.sputniknews.ru/20241214/megrinskie-kazaki-istoriya-n-1-ded-zhora-i-ego-podarok-rubenu-vardanyanu-na-beregu-araksa-83870933.html

Materials of the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan were sent to the Baku Military Court. The press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan reported that “investigation” in the case had been completed.

Ruben Vardanyan was charged with 20 articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Life imprisonment is the maximum possible term for them. At the same time, Ruben Vardanyan has already spent 15 months in the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center.

Let us remember that Ruben Vardanyan held the office of State Minister of Artsakh for only three months: in this post he solved problems of local residents. Due to these activities, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in the spring for preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

In the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center, Ruben Vardanyan is not allowed to meet with lawyers hired by his family, and “independent doctors” are also not allowed to visit him. Over the past six months, the social entrepreneur has sent many letters, but none of them reached the addressee. Azerbaijan will strive to hold the trial in the most closed regime, not allowing well-known human rights activists, media representatives and independent observers to attend it.

Read more: https://t.me/armeniyaone/10406

At the end of the year, Azerbaijan brought an additional 45 charges under 20 criminal articles against the well-known philanthropist nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in Artsakh.

The case against Ruben Vardanyan covers 25,000 pages in 100 volumes in Azerbaijani. At the same time, no one knows under which articles the philanthropist is accused. Baku claims that the matter concerns the national security of the country, so all information is strictly classified.

According to Ruben Vardanyan’s eldest son David, his father is now being defended by an Azerbaijani lawyer, while Vardanyan’s international defenders have not been even allowed into the country. The social entrepreneur’s legal team has not yet been able to contact their client.

While the philanthropist remains in captivity, his projects operate with the same efficiency. In December, the Dilijan Community Center, which Ruben Vardanyan and his wife Veronica Zonabend founded in 2014, published a large book about this Armenian resort. The presentation of the publication “The History of the City of Dilijan in the 19th-20th Centuries” was held at the Common Ground Books & Spirits space in Yerevan.

On the eve of the New Year, Ruben Vardanyan’s family and relatives urged all those who cared about him to write him a few warm words. To support the social entrepreneur, you can send him a letter – paper or electronic.

Details: https://freevardanyan.com/ru/kak-podderzhat-rubena-vardanyana-otpravit-emu-pismo/