The Supreme Spiritual Council, convened under the presidency of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, has addressed the ongoing trials against former political leaders, military personnel, and civilians of Artsakh in Azerbaijan.
The Council called on former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 20 days, to end his protest. At the same time, Armenian authorities were urged to take decisive and highly visible actions.
The Council noted that the actions against Armenian captives held illegally in Azerbaijan are yet another manifestation of ongoing hostility and aggression by the Azerbaijani authorities against the Armenian people and the Republic of Armenia.
"It is evident that these trials, conducted in blatant violation of fundamental principles of international law, are accompanied by the torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners. The explicit goal is to completely distort the history of Artsakh's struggle for self-determination, aiming to humiliate our people and the Armenian state. Ignoring the calls and demands of the international community, the Azerbaijani authorities are not only attempting to conceal but also justify their acts of genocide and war crimes, while portraying the victims as criminals.
Through fabricated trials and forced testimonies extracted under torture, Azerbaijan is laying the groundwork for politically motivated verdicts, seeking to impose new pressures and acts of aggression against Armenia and the Armenian people. Simultaneously, all measures are being taken to prevent international lawyers and organizations from accessing Armenian prisoners. They are also denied even basic spiritual care.
Under these conditions, it is crucial for Armenian state institutions and pan-Armenian structures to unify efforts to stop these violent illegal actions and ensure the release of the prisoners.
We urge the Armenian authorities to initiate decisive and highly visible measures, leveraging all available Armenian and international resources to achieve this goal.
We also call on the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries and international organizations with human rights mandates to apply stronger measures against Azerbaijan to ensure the immediate repatriation of Armenian prisoners. Long-term stability and dignified coexistence in the region can only be achieved through a just resolution of existing issues and the realization of the rights of the people of Artsakh.
With prayers to the Almighty, we stand in solidarity with our beloved captives, urging them to refrain from protest actions that may pose immediate threats to their lives and health.
We call on our beloved Ruben Vardanyan to end his hunger strike and continue his struggle with steadfast faith for the right to a free and dignified life.
We raise our prayers to God for all captives, the afflicted, and their families, asking for the Lord’s blessings and assistance for all," the statement concluded.
*Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, currently imprisoned in Baku under fabricated charges, sent an audio message through his family, emphasizing that he has always acted in accordance with his moral principles and has never betrayed them, even in the most difficult times.
"I knew what I was getting into, I was prepared for it, and I am ready for even worse conditions. I am not a victim, I do not need pity—this was a conscious decision," he said.*
