Nicolas and Christine Aznavour express their solidarity with former  Ruben Vardanyan

ArmInfo. Nicolas and Christine Aznavour expressed their solidarity with former Artsakh State Minister and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, his family, and all who support him during this difficult time. As a reminder, Vardanyan was sentenced to 20 years in prison on February 17 by a Baku puppet court on charges of "mercenarism and terrorism."

The Aznavour family's statement, published by the Aznavour Foundation, recalls that for decades, Ruben Vardanyan initiated and implemented large-scale development projects in education, charity, and nation- building, investing his time and resources in the future of Armenia and Artsakh. "Ruben Vardanyan has been illegally held in a Baku prison for over two years. His trial, which lasted over a year, was widely criticized by lawyers, international organizations, and human rights activists as being completely incompatible with fair trial guarantees. As a result, the military court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison on charges he and his lawyers categorically deny, considering them politically motivated and lacking evidence. Nicolas and Christine Aznavour express their solidarity with Ruben, his family, and everyone who supports him during this difficult time," the statement reads.

As a reminder, Vardanyan and seven other former and current Artsakh officials have been held in Azerbaijani captivity since late September 2023, in violation of all international law. The international community ignores the fact that the Artsakh officials are in Azerbaijani captivity.


The exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts estimate the number to be several hundred. Today, Azerbaijani authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians in their custody. Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity are former Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan; former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan; as well as Parliament Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan; former Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army General Levon Mnatsakanyan; General David Manukyan; and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

In early February, a Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, and Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan to 20 years in prison. The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison.