Call to the International Community
Support to ensure that Azerbaijan does not sentence Ruben Vardanyan—a public and state figure and a lifelong advocate for human rights—to life imprisonment.
The Genesis Armenia Think Tank/Foundation strongly condemns the prosecution and potential life imprisonment attempt against Ruben Vardanyan by the authorities in Baku.
Ruben Vardanyan is a global advocate for international humanitarian law. He has invested significant resources to bring the international Aurora forum to life, reaching out to dedicated individuals conducting humanitarian work in global conflict zones and assisting peoples in need. His commitment to humanitarian values is known worldwide.
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Ruben Vardanyan is not a criminal, as Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime seeks to mislead the world. Vardanyan is an intellectual, a public and state figure, and a man fighting for his people’s right to self-determination and freedom. During Azerbaijan’s war against Artsakh in September 2023, Vardanyan chose to share the fate of his people; he was taken captive but did not abandon his people. Throughout his life, Vardanyan has supported the spread of the ideas of freedom and justice, the establishment of democratic processes, and the concept of peaceful coexistence and solidarity among nations.
The criminal case initiated against him in Azerbaijan is fabricated, illegal, and a severe blow to justice and the fundamental principles of human rights. We call on the international community, the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, international organizations, the U.N. Human Rights Council, the OSCE, and other organizations to condemn this action by the Azerbaijani authorities and to exert pressure necessary to prevent the unjust conviction of Ruben Vardanyan and ensure his release.
The principles of human right protection and justice demand decisive action.
Genesis Armenia
