Catholic Vote, a U.S.-based outlet, has highlighted the urgent issue of Armenian Christian prisoners detained in Baku in the context of upcoming visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. The outlet spoke with David Vardanyan, son of imprisoned Armenian philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan.

“On the eve of the visit, the son of an imprisoned Armenian Christian is calling on the Trump administration to pressure Azerbaijan to release prisoners held since September 2023,” the article states, according to Panorama.am .

David Vardanyan said his father moved to the region after the 2020 war to support the local Christian population, which had been “abandoned by the world.”

“He gave up everything and risked his life. He tried to protect them, to live alongside them in their hardest times. And he is now paying the price for defending a persecuted minority through peaceful means,” Vardanyan said.

He called the 40 charges against his father, including financing terrorism and illegal border crossing, fabricated and noted that the trial lacks even basic legal guarantees. According to him, Ruben Vardanyan is being tried in a military tribunal despite never having held a military post, which constitutes a violation of international norms. “He has become a pawn in a political show,” he added.

Vardanyan said independent journalists and observers are barred from attending the trials, and contact with family has been heavily restricted, especially since the expulsion of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Now, communication is limited to brief, tightly monitored phone calls. His father has been held in solitary confinement and subjected to abuse.

Azerbaijan has not released a full list of detainees. According to Vardanyan, although four people have been released, 19 are confirmed to remain in custody, with the real number potentially higher due to the number of missing war prisoners. As previously reported by Zeale News, around 80 individuals remain unaccounted for following military assaults.

He also referenced the broader issue of Christian persecution in Azerbaijan. Vardanyan said Armenian detainees are restricted in practicing their faith. During his father’s first week in custody, even a Bible and a Christian book in Armenian were denied, though other books were allowed.

“The most horrific reports came from other prisoners who said that tattooed crosses or religious symbols were burned off their bodies,” Vardanyan added.

He also pointed to multiple documented cases of Armenian churches and Christian sites being destroyed in abandoned parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, describing it as part of a systematic and deliberate policy.

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

David Vardanyan also thanked former President Trump and the U.S. for prioritizing Christian protection, noting Trump had previously addressed the issue of Armenian detainees.

According to OC Media, in August 2025, Trump expressed readiness to intervene during a conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, expecting cooperation from Baku.

“This is a rare chance to prove again that the president and vice president keep their word. Protecting Christians is a top priority for this administration, not only in the U.S. but globally,” Vardanyan said.

He believes Vice President Vance, who has often spoken out about Christian persecution worldwide, could have a direct impact on securing the release of Armenian prisoners through his regional meetings.

“This is a small effort with the potential for big impact. I believe with the vice president’s support, we can bring them home,” Vardanyan concluded.

Ruben Vardanyan's case is being handled separately. Former President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has been sentenced to life imprisonment, along with former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and his former deputy Davit Manukyan. Former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan and Speaker of the National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan also received life sentences. Former Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and B