In an extraordinary audio message transmitted from a Baku prison, Ruben Vardanyan, the imprisoned philanthropist and former Artsakh State Minister, has issued a powerful plea for genuine and lasting peace, grounded in fundamental human values and dignity. Delivered to his family during a phone call and explicitly requested for public dissemination, Vardanyan\u2019s message transcends the confines of his imprisonment, resonating as a call for unity amongst Armenians and a demand for justice in the face of his ongoing trial in Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n
Speaking on March 5th, 2025, Vardanyan\u2019s message, conveyed through his family, opens with a message of personal fortitude. Identifying himself as “Ruben Vardanyan, as I am \u2013 Armenian in spirit, Russian-thinking and speaking, a global citizen,” he expresses gratitude for the support he has received, stating, “I feel it, and it gives me strength. Thought is material.” He asserts his well-being, stating he is in “good condition, firm, my health is normal, I am at peace with myself and spiritually stronger than ever.” This opening sets a tone of resilience and defiance, countering any narrative of despair or defeat.<\/p>\n
Vardanyan extends a heartfelt apology to his wife, family, and loved ones for the pain and anxiety caused by his decisions. However, he underscores the personal nature of his choices, stating, “Each of us has his own path, and I have chosen this path for myself.” Referencing a higher purpose, he adds, “Our destinies are predetermined by God, and we always choose the paths.” This reflects a deeply personal conviction and a sense of acceptance of his situation, even as he acknowledges the emotional toll on those close to him.<\/p>\n
Vardanyan\u2019s message explicitly states that his current stance is “in no way conditioned by me, my condition, or my conditions in prison.” He clarifies this is a “protest against the process, against how this trial is being conducted.” Echoing his previous hunger strike in the lead-up to April 24th, he reiterates his demands for a fair and transparent legal process.<\/p>\n
Vardanyan’s Demands for a Fair Trial: <\/strong><\/p>\n Vardanyan challenges the separation of his case from others, questioning why his trial is being singled out when the accusations against him are rooted in alleged membership in an “organized criminal group” since 1987. This points to concerns about the fairness and impartiality of the legal proceedings, suggesting a politically motivated prosecution.<\/p>\n Addressing his “compatriots, dear and close people,” Vardanyan broadens the scope of his message, stating, “They are judging not me and the other 15 people, but all Armenians.” He warns against complacency, arguing that failure to understand this broader context is a “great tragedy,” as “this is not the end of the whole history, the conflict, but only the next stage\u2014to the regret of all sides.” This call for unity and understanding frames his trial as symbolic of a larger struggle facing the Armenian people.<\/p>\n Despite the gravity of his situation, Vardanyan\u2019s message is imbued with themes of forgiveness and resilience. He expresses readiness to bear “the heaviest punishment” if it would contribute to peace, yet cautions against the illusion that his conviction will bring lasting tranquility. He advocates against responding to evil with evil, citing the cycle of violence from Sumgait to Khojaly, arguing that “this path has always been unacceptable to me because it has no future, it is just a dead end.”<\/p>\n Vardanyan reflects on his time in Artsakh, expressing gratitude for the “love, trust, warmth and gratitude” of the people. He fondly recalls shared moments of community and resilience amidst hardship, including rebuilding the Gandzasar monastery, sharing bread, and dancing together. He highlights the paradoxical nature of his experience, stating that despite the difficulties, “those were some of the best days of my life.” This section underscores his deep connection to Artsakh and its people, reinforcing the motivations behind his move to the region.<\/p>\n In a powerful concluding section, Vardanyan emphasizes the importance of upholding core values and rejecting despair. He argues that “there are more important things than one person’s life: it is the need to preserve faith in goodness, light, values, holiness, spiritual foundations within you, which distinguishes a person from a robot.” He warns against becoming “slaves to the golden calf,” urging listeners to learn from history and avoid repeating past mistakes.<\/p>\n He concludes with a call for “real long-term peace,” not just “signed on paper, but brought to life,” based on mutual respect and recognition of strength and dignity. He emphasizes the responsibility of a true elite, defined not by wealth or power, but by a commitment to public duty and the future of their nation, placing national interest above personal gain. His final words, shifting to Armenian, “\u053c\u0575\u0578\u056d \u056c\u0561\u057e\u0561 \u056c\u056b\u0576\u0565\u056c\u0578\u0582” (Everything will be alright), offer a message of hope and unwavering faith in the future, grounded in his identity and heritage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Imprisoned in Baku, Ruben Vardanyan transmits a powerful audio message, urging lasting peace, Armenian unity, and a fair trial, defying despair and calling for adherence to core human values.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3202,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow5Nm1DA:productID":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[31,116,99,3483,8740,1642,1688,117,8739,8155,6337,7519,703],"class_list":["post-3438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artsakh","tag-armenia","tag-artsakh","tag-azerbaijan","tag-baku-prison","tag-forgiveness","tag-human-rights","tag-justice","tag-nagorno-karabakh","tag-peace-call","tag-political-prisoner","tag-ruben-vardanyan","tag-trial","tag-unity"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ruben-Vardanyan.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3438\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
“They Are Judging All Armenians”: A Plea for Unity and Understanding<\/h3>\n
Forgiveness, Resilience, and Rejection of Vengeance<\/h3>\n
Gratitude and Connection with Artsakh<\/h3>\n
Call to Uphold Core Values and Reject Despair<\/h3>\n