Politik.am’s interview with Mirza Dinnayi, a well-known human rights defender and the winner of the prestigious Aurora Humanitarian Award.
Dear , Mr. Dinnayi, we know that Ruben Vardanyan, the co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Award, is imprisoned in Baku. How would you describe the kidnapping and imprisonment of Ruben Vardanyan by Azerbaijan?
Thank you for the question. It must be said that the arrest of Ruben Vardanyan dealt a great blow to the perception of human rights. In the world’s eyes, Ruben Vardanyan is not only an Armenian figure, but also a humanitarian and philanthropist of the international level. His work, which he carried out with his family for decades, did not discriminate, and he implemented his charitable programs regardless of the ethnic identities of his recipients. Beneficiaries of his charitable initiatives were representatives of different nations and religions. We hoped that the state of Azerbaijan would not look upon Ruben Vardanyan the way they have currently judged him. This was a great blow to the humanitarian community around the world. For this reason, this action has caused discontent among those who deal with humanity and human rights.
It turns out that the founder of the humanitarian Aurora Prize, who, as you said, has supported millions of people around the world regardless of their national and religious affiliation, is now in prison in Baku and needs help. What can be done to help him?
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Truthfully, we must acknowledge that the international structures did not do a very satisfactory job regarding what happened to Ruben Vardanyan. It should also be noted that the policies carried out by states are not determined by the activities of human rights defenders operating in those countries, and today, we see illegal actions against human rights defenders in many countries of the world. With regard to Ruben Vardanyan, I think that we should strengthen our efforts so that the government of Azerbaijan shows humanity. In this sense, Aurora’s community of philanthropists also has work to do, and some steps have already been taken: we have sent letters and messages, but I believe that we can and should do more, especially in the political sense.
Is the Aurora community taking action? Here in Armenia, it seems to us that the Aurora community is passive. Is that so, or are we mistaken? We think that the Aurora community can at least start an international movement and show the world that the co-founder of the humanitarian award, who was already withstanding difficult conditions alongside the people of Artsakh for one year, is being held illegally in Baku.
First, of course, we must acknowledge that Aurora is a humanitarian community, not a political initiative; therefore, our steps are more within the civil field, and we do not have many tools at our disposal in the political arena. In this sense, political structures have the most influential mechanisms. I must say that since 2020, the Aurora community, with Ruben Vardanyan, has done the greatest humanitarian work in support of the Armenians of Artsakh. And in this sense, I think Aurora implemented the greatest humanitarian work. I should also say that representatives of many nations are engaged in this work, because Aurora is an international institution, not only composed of Armenians. As I already mentioned, the beneficiaries of Aurora are millions of people from different countries around the world. In terms of influence on political processes, I think that such international structures as the European Union, the European Council, and the United Nations, acting as the flag bearers of human rights, have the most work to do. These structures can have a significant impact on the process. Serious work should be done in the European Court of Human Rights. With Aurora, as I already noted, our reach is not as great in terms of influencing humanitarian and political structures or states.
Of course, my question was not about whether human rights defenders have great influence on the decisions of international structures, whose members are states. I was referring to human rights defenders influencing the governments of their respective countries. For example, you live in Iraq and are a respected human rights defender. You are also active in Germany. Can’t you contact your government and inform them about the problem, so that the governments can harness their own tools?
Yes, I already said that there is a need to do more work. I can also say that whenever we, as members of this humanitarian family, participate in any international discussion related to human rights, we definitely raise the issue of what is happening with Ruben Vardanyan. We do the same during internal discussions in our countries, but this is not enough, because Ruben Vardanyan is in a critical situation, and other tools of influence must be put into action.
Mr. Dinnayi, if we read the Azerbaijani accusations attributed to Ruben Vardanyan, we will witness the theater of the absurd, because the person who is the co-founder of an international humanitarian award, the individual who supported the people affected by terrorists, is accused of “financing terrorism” and “creating terrorist groups.” This will be especially absurd for you, because you were defending the rights of Yezidis who suffered from terrorists, and Vardanyan is one of those who supported you in this regard.
I, like you, am in shock when I hear the “crimes” that are attributed to Ruben Vardanyan. I myself visited Artsakh in 2020 and witnessed the great work that supported the people affected by the war. Ruben Vardanyan was there to address the needs of his people, to support their struggle for existence. Ruben Vardanyan was not there for enmity against Azerbaijanis; he was there because his people needed support. This baseless accusation against Ruben Vardanyan is shameful. The international structures dealing with human rights should respond to this and speak more loudly about what is happening to Ruben Vardanyan. Yes, they are talking about him, they are talking about the need for his release, but that is not enough.
Mr. Dinnayi, couldn’t what happened to Ruben Vardanyan become a precedent, which would imply that humanitarians and philanthropists operating in different conflict zones around the world could be targeted? Is it not possible for this situation to repeat in the case of other humanitarians as well?
Yes, this can set a very negative precedent, and other humanitarians can also be targeted. And if those who deal with human rights remain silent regarding the illegal arrest of a person like Ruben Vardanyan, then it will turn out that there are double standards in the field of human rights defense as well. I consider Ruben Vardanyan an international symbol of humanity, and from China to the U.S.A., all those who deal with human rights should talk about Ruben Vardanyan. Let’s also not forget that the rights of 100,000 Armenians were violated due to what happened in Artsakh. They remained homeless, became refugees. Silence in this regard is a crime, and those who remain silent will become accomplices.
Mr. Dinnayi, did you talk to Ruben Vardanyan while he was under siege with his compatriots in Artsakh?
Unfortunately, when Artsakh was under siege, there was no opportunity to personally contact Ruben Vardanyan, but I was in constant contact with Aurora’s Yerevan representative. The last time I met his wife was a year ago, and I learned that the situation in Artsakh was dire. I am sure that Ruben Vardanyan himself was aware of the danger he was exposing himself to, but he decided not to leave his people alone during their moment of need. He sacrificed himself for a struggle in whose truth he fully believed. Before his arrest, he knew that his condition would worsen day by day, but he decided to remain with his people.
Thank you, Mr. Dinnayi, for answering our questions. Let me remind you that I was speaking with Mirza Dinnayi, a well-known human rights activist and winner of the Aurora Prize.