The recent arrest by the government of Azerbaijan of philanthropist, businessman, Armenian citizen and co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, Ruben Vardanyan, is both outrageous and politically motivated. As members of the global humanitarian and human rights community we call for his immediate release.
Ruben Vardanyan stands out as an outspoken advocate for peace not only in our region but in the world. He is a world known philanthropist, businessman and co-founder of the Aurora Prize humanitarian initiative which advocates for peacebuilding and provides people around the world with education and healthcare.
The announcement is open to anyone who wants to join. Both media representatives and public figures can join.
I ask for your prayers and support for my husband’s safe release.
Azerbaijani telegram channels report that Vardanyan was arrested by Azerbaijani forces.
Last week, Armenians worldwide experienced one of the biggest tragedies of their lives after Azerbaijan occupied Artsakh.
Delay may cost lives for Artsakh, which has already suffered incalculable human losses in recent days.
Azerbaijan’s latest military aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has opened a “window of opportunity” to settle the situation in the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed such a view at Monday’s joint press conference in Nakhichevan with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with the delegation led by Samantha Power, head of the USAID. Yuri Kim, the US acting assistant secretary of state, was also in the delegation.
International organizations, first of all the International Committee of the Red Cross, Russian peacekeepers stationed in Artsakh should urgently open an air corridor in order to quickly bring the injured and wounded people to the RA medical institutions as a result of the recent combat operations and the catastrophic explosion that took place today in Artsakh. Stepanakert-Goris land road is terribly congested, it is almost at a standstill and there is no way to get the wounded and injured through it. And the healthcare system of Artsakh at the moment simply cannot handle and serve this whole situation. An air corridor is a dire necessity and must be launched at all costs.
