VIVA Foundation warns of threat to Ruben Vardanyan's life in Azerbaijan and calls for international intervention
YEREVAN, February 27. /ARKA/. Due to the sharp deterioration in the health of Ruben Vardanyan, who is being held in an Azerbaijani prison, the charity foundation "Doctors and Volunteers - Armenia VIVA" has called for immediate intervention by international humanitarian and medical organizations.
We, the doctors of the VIVA charitable foundation, express our deep concern over the critical deterioration of Ruben Vardanyan’s health, who has been deprived of his freedom by Azerbaijan. As professionals guided by the principles of medical ethics and the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, we are obliged to state that the current situation poses a direct threat to Ruben Vardanyan’s life and requires immediate intervention from international humanitarian and medical organizations”, said in a foundation’s statement
According to publicly available information, after a week of hunger strike, Mr. Vardanyan’s condition has sharply deteriorated, posing a serious threat to his life.
“We insist that the preservation of human life and health must remain an inviolable principle of humanity, even in conditions of imprisonment. According to international norms, Vardanyan must be transferred to a medical facility and placed under the supervision of qualified doctors”, the VIVA foundation states.
Statement by the Lawyer
Ruben Vardanyan's international lawyer, Jared Genser, stated the day before that there is a serious threat to his life and health. "Ruben has been on a hunger strike for a week now, which has severely impacted his health. At this point, he has lost 6 kg, his pulse is dangerously high, and his blood pressure is elevated. Vardanyan is experiencing severe dizziness and is in a near-fainting state," the statement reads.
The lawyer noted that, given Vardanyan's condition, a motion had been filed to postpone the hearings, but it was rejected by the panel of judges, who stated that Vardanyan must attend the hearings, as long as he is able to sit during them.
"Forcing Ruben to participate in this trial, despite the serious threats to his health, constitutes a violation of international law and amounts to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of defendants. I urge international human rights organizations with access to prisoners in Azerbaijan to visit Ruben Vardanyan immediately. I also request that the Azerbaijani government allow a doctor from our international team to visit Ruben in the pre-trial detention center to provide the necessary medical care, including regular monitoring of his condition during the hunger strike, and to postpone the trial until it ends. I also call on world leaders and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to condemn the illegal trial against Ruben and other Armenian political prisoners," the lawyer stated.
On Armenian Prisoners in Baku
Azerbaijan officially confirms holding only 33 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, but Armenian human rights activists claim there are an additional 80 Armenian prisoners.
On January 17, 2025, the so-called trial of 15 Armenian prisoners of war began in Baku. Among them are the former State Minister of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, former Presidents of the Republic Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, former Speaker of the Parliament David Ishkhanyan, former Foreign Minister and former Assistant to the President of the NKR, David Babayan, former Commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, and former Deputy Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh, David Manukyan.
