Vardanyan Steps Up Criticism Of Armenian Government
Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent businessman remaining in Azerbaijani captivity along with at least 18 other Armenians, has stepped up his accusations that Armenia’s government is indifferent to the fate of the prisoners.
Vardanyan, who held the second-highest post in Nagorno-Karabakh’s leadership from November 2022 to February 2023, also had criticized Pashinyan’s government in his previous statement from an Azerbaijani jail circulated by his family on April 21. He also had called on Armenia’s human rights ombudswoman, Anahit Manasyan, to try to visit the Armenian prisoners together with their relatives.
Manasyan responded that she has no mandate to inspect prison conditions in Azerbaijan or in any other foreign nation. She reiterated her position in the Armenian parliament on Thursday.
Vardanyan was arrested at an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin corridor in September 2023 as he fled the region along with its practically entire ethnic Armenian population. Seven other former Karabakh Armenian leaders were also arrested during the exodus that followed an Azerbaijani military offensive.
Five of them were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the two others, as well as Vardanyan, received 20-year jail sentences in February at the end of yearlong trials denounced by Amnesty International as a “travesty.” They all denied a long list of accusations brought against them.
Pashinyan and other Armenian officials insist that Yerevan has been doing its best to try to secure the release of the prisoners. Their critics dismiss these assurances. They accused the Armenian premier of actually helping Baku legitimize Vardanyan’s imprisonment with his scathing comments about the 57-year-old billionaire and philanthropist made in August 2024.
The following statement was conveyed to the family by telephone on May 7, 2026.
I have reviewed the response of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, to my appeal.
I will not publicly assess her position. That is a matter between her and her conscience. I will say simply: I am genuinely sorry. God will be your judge.
However, this response raises very specific questions — not only for the institution of the Human Rights Defender, but for the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.
If the protection of Armenian citizens held in Azerbaijani prisons does not fall within the mandate of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, then whose mandate is it?
Who has been appointed within the government to be responsible for this matter? When were they appointed? Why do neither the families of the detainees nor society at large know anything about this?
There are people who have been in Baku’s prisons for six years. During this time, the Government of Armenia has failed to establish any sustainable and coherent mechanism for communication with them — neither through third-party countries, including the embassies of states with a presence in Baku, nor through international organizations.
Why?
Why can Armenian officials travel to Azerbaijan on trade, economic, and other matters, but cannot organize a visit concerning the lives, health, and legal situation of Armenian captives? Is the fate of these people not more important than trade negotiations?
Why has a basic mechanism for delivering essential items to the detainees still not been put in place?
A number of people have received no parcels for over a year. Many have no adequate clothing and no way to receive what they genuinely need, given their age, health conditions, and the circumstances of their detention.
Instead, whatever assistance does reach them is organized informally, without transparency, and without regard for the actual needs of the detainees. People receive not what they need, but what someone decided to send. This is not assistance. These are handouts.
Among those detained are people over the age of 70, people with serious health conditions. When people who have no teeth are sent dried fruit, that is not help. That is humiliation.
Is the Prime Minister aware of this?
Who is personally responsible for organizing this process? What is the established procedure? Why is it not being followed?
Have you no shame?
Is there no shame in receiving a peace prize, speaking of peace, and accepting applause — while citizens of Armenia remain in Baku’s prisons without proper protection, without systemic support, without assistance or oversight from their own state?
Name the responsible official. Publish the procedure. Explain what has been done over the past six years.
Or honestly admit that no such official exists — and that the captives have no reason to expect help from their own state.
Ruben Vardanyan