Ruben Vardanyan’s son appeals to Washington over jailed Armenian hostages

(Horizon Weekly) – Catholic Vote has drawn attention to the plight of Armenian Christian prisoners held in Azerbaijan ahead of planned visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. The outlet featured an interview with David Vardanyan, son of imprisoned Armenian philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, who urged the U.S. administration to pressure Baku to secure the release of detainees held since September 2023.

David Vardanyan said his father moved to Artsakh after the 2020 war to support the local Christian population, which had been abandoned by the international community. He stressed that Ruben Vardanyan gave up his personal security and wealth to live alongside the population during its most difficult period and is now being punished for defending a persecuted minority through peaceful means.

He described the 40 charges against his father, including terrorism financing and illegal border crossing, as fabricated and politically motivated. The trial lacks basic legal guarantees and is being conducted in a military tribunal, despite Ruben Vardanyan never having held a military position, thereby violating international standards. “He has become a pawn in a political show,” he said.

Vardanyan reported severe restrictions on transparency and family contact. Independent journalists and observers are barred from court proceedings, while communication with relatives has been sharply limited since the expulsion of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Contact is now restricted to short, closely monitored phone calls. He said his father has been kept in solitary confinement and subjected to abuse.

He also raised serious concerns about religious persecution. Armenian detainees face restrictions on practicing their faith, and during his father’s first week in detention, even a Bible and Armenian-language Christian books were denied. He cited reports from other prisoners stating that tattooed crosses and religious symbols had been burned off their bodies. He further pointed to the systematic destruction of Armenian churches and Christian heritage sites in abandoned areas of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“You cannot hold Christian hostages in prison cells and expect the world to believe in real peace,” he said.

Vardanyan welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s past engagement on the issue and emphasized Washington’s stated commitment to protecting Christians worldwide. He recalled reports that Trump, in 2025, expressed readiness to intervene during talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, expecting cooperation from Baku.

He said Vice President Vance, who has spoken publicly about global Christian persecution, has the capacity to play a decisive role through his regional meetings. “With the vice president’s support, we can bring them home,” he said.

Ruben Vardanyan’s case is being handled separately from other detained Armenian leaders. Former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defence Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, and his deputy Davit Manukyan have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan and former National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan were also sentenced to life in prison. Former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison.