Davit Vardanyan, the son of Ruben Vardanyan, who was illegally stored in Baku, gave an interview to the French newspaper Le Spectacle Du Monde.
Interview with some reductions,
- What conditions is your father kept in Azerbaijan?
It is a question that is simultaneously and clear and complicated. The situation in Baku is completely devoid of transparency. We don't really know exactly what's going on there. A year ago, in April 2024, when my father was on hunger strike, we had no news for two weeks of protest. If you ask me about yesterday or today, we have no information. Theoretically, we get the opportunity to communicate at least once on the phone every week. It is also obvious that every time there is no news, we begin to worry.
- How do you communicate with him by mail, phone through a lawyer?
- The first means is the Red Cross. But that's not the easiest thing. There are many rules set by the organization. The number of contacts is limited, but it is obvious that it is better than having nothing at all. The other chance is a few minutes of telephone, from which we can use every week. But we never know whether there will be a phone call next week or not. It is left to Azerbaijan's will. We can also exchange emails, but it is actually more difficult. I once received a letter late ... In any case, this issue is beyond the agenda, as Baku is going to ban the activities of the Red Cross.
There is a lawyer on the spot, but there is significant pressure on him. We also have an international human rights activist who follows the case from the United States. As for us, it is impossible for us to visit my father.
- What do you think is the plan to carry out Baku by arresting your Father? Does this program be based on his courage, the desire to break his determination? And so, try to break psychologically to all Armenians ...
- You are right. It is no coincidence that my father's arrest was a special video in September 2023. It is part of their strategy. They want to show Armenians around the world what they can do to us. Baku uses my father's image and reputation to send a message to the world. Unfortunately, it can be said that they are some of them succeeding. Azerbaijan appeals to Armenians by the logic of intimidation, humiliation and the desire to go further. Tomorrow, they can tell residents of Yerevan, "Do you want to live safe?" So now, now, when Artsakh is ours, we want the Syunik region, then maybe peace will be established. " Azerbaijan does not hide this fact, as now the territory of Armenia considers "Western Azerbaijan". In my opinion, this rhetoric is very worrying for Armenia.
- What can be said about being not transparent to the actual trial, which are not available to the defense side?
- This is an absurd theater. My father is nominated for 44 accusations, all of which are obviously unfounded. To this day, the prosecution has not submitted any material evidence. Our lawyer was unable to obtain documents in proceedings. We are talking about more than 25,000 pages, which is fully represented in Azerbaijani. Therefore, it becomes impossible to prepare my father's defense for our lawyers without getting acquainted with the details. The Azerbaijani government is constantly repeating that the trial is open to journalists and non-governmental organizations. However, during the last court hearings, journalists of Reuters and other agencies were banned from entering the court. Amnesty International has already condemned the eyes of this trial.
- What can contribute to the release of your father and his twenty-two fortune?
- It is very important to note that we do not separate my father's job from other Armenian prisoners. Seven of them are Artsakh leaders. In order for Baku to succeed, everyone needs to be silent about the genocide committed by Azerbaijan, Baku wants the world to continue to look different. So the best thing is to talk about it, writing. On social networks, radio, everywhere. I know that the French government tells many things to support the Armenians. We need to talk to German, United Kingdom, US Ambassadors. And, of course, the Europeans should be asked about gas.
- Considering that Mrs. Von der Layen claimed that Azerbaijan was a reliable partner.
- It is unfamiliar, isn't it? How to be reliable when they are constantly talking about human rights and at the same time they catch a work with Aliyev. It also refers to Great Britain. The Aliyev family has a large property in London. Why not put pressure on him? Of course, I understand what Real Polithic is, but there are also red lines.
- Whether this trial mockery has attracted the attention of the new American administration. Donald Trump's surroundings will be more pressure on Azerbaijan.
- This is one of the most important points. Many Armenians are quite pessimistic about the new administration of the Republicans. But if we talk frankly, what did Biden's administration have done for us? Just words. In fact, I remember that Donald Trump has expressed determined to protect the identity and rights of Christians. I think it's a really important topic for him. In addition, it is a question that is also raised inside his team. At the level of individuals such as new Secretary of State Marco Rubion or Michael Walts. It is a priority that the Armenian government will show the new administration that we are a Christian people with our culture and rights. This is a historic opportunity to change the position of the American government.
- In the same, in particular, there is an influential Armenian lobby in California. Is it enough mobilized?
- Of course, the Diaspora supports us a lot. But the problem is the differences between the Diaspora and the Armenian authorities. Systematic political actions are difficult to implement. It is clear that when you have prisoners of war, the government should normalize the situation.
- It raises questions about the perseverance of Pashinyan's government, which raised the thesis that Artsakh should be handed over. This is a position that Ruben Vardanyan has always condemned, believing that Artsakh's concession will endanger the whole of Armenia.
- The question of the people is vital. Pashinyan says the problem is important. There are things that a small country can do to protect yourself, for example, to ensure the release of its captives. At the moment, we hope that the situation will change. You need to talk about this situation, and you, journalists, can cover this situation so that our captives are not forgetting.
