“No Armenian is Safe”: Ruben Vardanyan’s Son Calls for Action on Political Prisoners Held in Baku

EXCLUSIVE: In a heartfelt and compelling video, David Vardanyan, the son of Armenian humanitarian and former Minister of State of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan, has shared an emotional account of his father's journey, values, and arrest by Azerbaijani authorities. Ruben Vardanyan has been detained in Baku since September 27, 2023, following a military offensive launched by Azerbaijan against the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh.

"I'm worried for my father, but I'm also worried for all the Armenians who are being held in Baku."

David opens the video by highlighting his father’s transformation from a highly successful businessman into a dedicated humanitarian. For over 15 years, Ruben Vardanyan has poured his resources and energy into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (known to Armenians as Artsakh), focusing on educational initiatives, humanitarian aid, and efforts to bolster the Armenian community. 

In 2022 Ruben made a bold decision: he would move to Nagorno-Karabakh to support its 120,000 residents, who were facing mounting economic, political, and security challenges. Despite the risks, he joined the community as one of them, briefly serving as Nagorno-Karabakh’s Minister of State for three months before returning to humanitarian work. David recalls this transition as a defining moment for his father. “He wasn’t just a businessman or politician,” he says, “but someone determined to make a difference, no matter the personal cost.”

"I think it was a very clear message that was sent to all the Armenian people, with the arrest of someone like my father, Ruben, that no Armenian is safe, and that this can happen to all of you."

David reflects on a conversation he had with his father, in which Ruben shared his philosophy on life. “We all have three choices when faced with difficulty,” Ruben had told him: “to isolate ourselves and run away, to adapt and accept the circumstances, or to try to change even the most impossible of situations and act according to our values.” Ruben, David says, always chose the third path, a choice that ultimately brought him to Nagorno-Karabakh during one of the region’s darkest times.

"We need to speak more about the political prisoners, and I think that the next step we must take now is to put more pressure on Azerbaijan."

For over a year, Ruben Vardanyan dedicated himself to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, remaining among them despite increasing hardship. Fuel and electricity were scarce, forcing the community to adapt in creative ways. Ruben managed to bring in an electric car powered by solar panels, which he used to transport pregnant women to medical facilities. Thanks to his efforts, many Armenian children were born despite the conditions.

"It's the call to action that we must respond to."

David expressed immense pride in his father, saying, “It was undoubtedly a difficult time, but I feel immensely proud of my father for having the courage to do what he believes was right and for standing up for a minority group abandoned by much of the world.” Ruben’s presence, he added, gave strength and hope to a population struggling against near-impossible odds.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a new military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh. For months, Armenians in the region had endured extreme food shortages and restricted access to basic resources due to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only route connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Facing overwhelming odds, the resistance in Nagorno-Karabakh quickly collapsed.

"We all know what's happening is concretely against international norms and standards, and we need to show Azerbaijan that such behavior cannot be tolerated, especially if the country wants to position itself on the international stage."

Amid the chaos of the population’s exodus through the Lachin Corridor, Ruben Vardanyan was detained by Azerbaijani border police. David explains that Ruben was among the first to be arrested, but others soon followed, including three former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh. The total number of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan remains unclear, heightening the anguish of families and communities in Armenia and abroad.

In his video, David describes his father’s detention as a chilling message to Armenians everywhere: “No Armenian is safe, and this can happen to all of you.” Ruben’s arrest is viewed as part of a broader strategy by Azerbaijan to intimidate the Armenian people, undermining the morale of those who have endured the trauma of conflict and displacement.

The current humanitarian crisis facing Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh has only intensified since Ruben’s arrest. Thousands of Armenians have been forced to flee their ancestral homeland, seeking refuge in Armenia after Azerbaijan’s invasion.

David appeals to the international community for support, urging governments and human rights organizations to apply pressure on Azerbaijan to release his father and others detained under questionable circumstances. “We need to speak more about political prisoners,” he insists, urging global stakeholders to hold Azerbaijan accountable for actions that violate international norms and standards.

As he concludes his message, David reflects on the legacy his father has created through his work and his sacrifice. Although he hopes for his father’s swift return, he believes that Ruben’s actions and choices are not in vain. “What’s happening to him, and the journey he’s going through, has not been in vain,” he states, hoping that Ruben’s arrest will fuel broader support for Armenia and the Armenian people.