Entrepreneur, philanthropist and former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan, who has been under illegal arrest in Baku for more than a year, said yesterday that Azerbaijani investigators falsified protocols and recordings of his interrogations and pressured him, his lawyer and translator to sign documents retroactively. He stated this in an open letter he dictated during a phone call from prison that was published on his social media accounts.
Statement by Ruben Vardanyan, Armenian Political Prisoner Illegally Incarcerated in Azerbaijan (conveyed to his family during his weekly phone call)
January 16, 2025
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
On the falsified charges against Vardanyan and other political prisoners
According to Azerbaijani media, a preliminary hearing on the case of Vardanyan and former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan will be held Friday, and it will be decided whether the trial will be held in an open or closed session.
Vardanyan and Harutyunyan have been charged with a number of serious crimes and face life imprisonment. Vardanyan’s family’s international legal adviser, Jared Genser, said the charges were fabricated and politically motivated. Last year, he reported that his client had been tortured. Vardanyan was transferred to a punishment cell, forced to stand on his feet, forbidden to bathe, and not given water for two days. The Azerbaijani side, in turn, periodically published photographs, trying to prove that they were allegedly being held in good conditions.
The problem is largely related to political processes, believes human rights activist Siranush Sahakyan. “The question arises: is Armenia making all the necessary diplomatic and political efforts to ensure the release of these individuals? It is obvious that this problem cannot be resolved on its own within the framework of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, since Armenia’s position in the negotiation processes is extremely weak,” Sahakyan notes in an interview with CivilNet. According to her, the issue of the right to self-determination and imprisonment is symbolically discussed in these trials, and it is clear that Azerbaijan intends to sentence those who exercise this right to life imprisonment.
“We have no predictions, not even the slightest chance, that the court decisions could lead to acquittals. Although all the charges brought are fabricated, they could nevertheless lead to long prison terms or even life imprisonment,” said the human rights activist.
The Armenian government’s office of the representative for international legal matters assures that it is asserting every legal measure possible to protect the rights of Armenians illegally detained in Azerbaijan. Currently, the main achievement is that the European Court of Human Rights obliged Azerbaijan to provide information every six months on the conditions of detention, health condition and development of the criminal case against the detainees.
In response to a CivilNet inquiry, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that it maintains contacts with a number of international organizations on the issue of the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians illegally held in Azerbaijan.
“The need to fully resolve the issue of detention was also mentioned in the recent public statement by the Prime Minister of Armenia as part of the vision for establishing long-term stability and peace in the region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
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