Ruben Vardanyan faces urgent health threats in Azerbaijan, says his lawyer

Former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister, businessman, and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, who remains illegally imprisoned in Baku, is facing urgent health threats, says his attorney Jared Genser.

Genser has stated that despite Vardanyan’s condition deteriorating sharply one week after launching a hunger strike, Azerbaijan continues to compel him to attend his trial, which has been marred with false accusations and evidence.

A statement posted on Ruben Vardanyan's official Facebook page by his lawyer reads:

"Vardanyan’s trial proceeded uninterrupted yesterday, despite his deteriorating health and repeated requests for a postponement. Specifically, Ruben’s blood pressure was recorded at the dangerously high rate of 140/110, which is categorized as 'Stage 2' high blood pressure and is considered to require medical attention. He has lost six kilograms (13.2 pounds) so far. His pulse was elevated well above normal. And he appeared exhausted and on several occasions came close to passing out."

On February 19, former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan launched a hunger strike in protest of the sham trial being carried out against him and other Armenian political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The proceedings in Vardanyan’s case began on January 17, after approximately 500 days in arbitrary detention. Not only does he face life in prison on politically motivated charges, but there have also been egregious violations of his due process rights.

Despite serious medical concerns, Vardanyan was brought before the Baku Military Court for a closed-door trial. His defense team requested a postponement, and while the court allowed a brief examination by a state doctor, the results were shared only with the court, raising concerns about transparency. The judicial panel rejected multiple postponement requests, insisting that Vardanyan could participate as long as he remained seated. His lawyer argued that forcing him to attend under such conditions amounts to cruel and inhuman treatment, violating international standards for medical care in detention.

Genser called on international organizations to seek immediate access to Vardanyan and urged independent observers to monitor the trial. He also appealed to the Azerbaijani government to allow an independent medical evaluation, ensure proper healthcare, and suspend the trial for the duration of the hunger strike. Additionally, he urged world leaders, particularly Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, to condemn the trial as politically motivated and unlawful.

Azerbaijan has confirmed that it’s holding 23 Armenian prisoners, although the Armenian side has stated that Baku is holding 32 more people in custody.

Following a nine-month blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and the ethnic cleansing of the region’s entire Armenian population in September 2023, Azerbaijan captured multiple Artsakh leaders, including three of its former presidents. They face numerous fabricated charges, including financing terrorism, that could result in life imprisonment.