Last September, Ruben Vardanyan was detained by the Azerbaijani authorities while trying to enter Armenia from Artsakh. He has been charged with financing terrorism and faces up to life in prison. The charges against him are completely unsubstantiated and are an act of political retribution for Ruben’s role in Nagorno-Karabakh.
In April 2024, Ruben engaged in a hunger strike to protest to his politically motivated prosecution and that of the other Armenian prisoners. In response, the authorities of the Pre-Trial Detention facility of the State Security Service moved him into a punishment cell and subjected him to several torture techniques.
Ruben’s family remain unaware of full psychological and physical trauma that has resulted from this treatment.
“We were shocked to learn of the horrors that my father has had to endure. It is terrifying to think of what is being done to other less prominent prisoners in Azerbaijan who have not received the international support that my father has. For the sake of all the current political prisoners in Azerbaijan – whether Armenian, Azerbaijani, or any other nationality – this inhumane treatment of prisoners must be stopped. We urge the UN to hold the Azerbaijan Government accountable and to help protect my father’s life.”
David Vardanyan
Ruben Vardanyan’s son
TAKE ACTION
Ruben Vardanyan and the other political prisoners held in Baku have garnered significant support from across the world. You too can help by signing our petition and writing letters with the easy-to-use templates below.
TO DATE:
SIGN OUR PETITION
Thousands of signatories are already supporting the release of Ruben Vardanyan and all other illegally-detained Baku prisoners. Get involved.
Send a Physical Letter to Ruben
Sending a physical letter to Ruben is a heartfelt way to show your support. You can do that by following these steps:
1. Click the Receive Details button below. This will open your email client with a pre-filled request for instructions. Send this email as it is.
2. The Free Armenian Prisoners team will respond with all the necessary information for sending a physical letter to Ruben.
3. Once you have the details, use your local postal service to send the letter and cover any necessary postage fees.
Your words of support will mean a lot, and this gesture helps remind Ruben that people are standing with him.
SEND AN EMAIL TO RUBEN
Voice your support by writing to Ruben and his family. Although Ruben cannot receive letters in prison, he will be able to see your letters after his release. Submit your letter via lettertoruben@freearmenianprisoners.com or by clicking the link below.
If you wish to send a letter directly to Ruben while he is unlawfully detained in Baku, please refer to the detailed instructions provided in Section 2.
WRITE TO PRESIDENT ALIYEV
Share your concerns with President Aliyev using the optional letter template and address details in the link below.
WRITE TO YOUR AMBASSADOR IN BAKU
Click below to select your country and receive an email template and contact details for you to follow.
Write to Azerbaijan’s commissioner for human rights
You can express your thoughts to the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan using the optional letter template and address details in the link below.
Write to Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general’s office
You may submit a complaint to the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Please note that by clicking the button below, you will be redirected to the website of the Prosecutor General’s Office, where you will need to provide passport details to proceed with the complaint. If you prefer not to share this information with a government agency, we recommend refraining from clicking the button below.
Once you have submitted a complaint, kindly click the button below. This helps us keep track of the number of letters sent.
Reaching Out to Azerbaijani Officials with a Physical Letter
You can send a physical letter to either the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AZ 1000, Azerbaijan, Baku, 80 Uzeyir Hajibeyli Street, Gate N.2) or the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AZ 1001, Azerbaijan, Baku, 7 Nigar Rafibeyli Street). To do so, please use your country’s postal services and pay any required fees.
Once you have sent the letter, kindly click the confirmation button below. This helps us keep track of the number of letters sent
FOLLOW
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When sharing, amplify reach by using the hashtags #FreeArmenianPrisoners and #FreeRubenVardanyan.
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WRITE TO YOUR AMBASSADOR IN BAKU
Please find a list of countries below that have an embassy in Azerbaijan. If your country is not on the list, then please feel free to reach out to the UN or the EU or an affiliate embassy of your choice. Alternatively, you can contact President Aliyev directly using the ‘Write to President Aliyev’ link. We appreciate your support.