Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh and co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, has been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
“Ruben Vardanyan was nominated for this high award for the creation and support for around five dozen new and unprecedented educational, charitable, scientific, and humanitarian structures not only in Armenia but also in a number of other countries,” said his office.
The nominators mentioned his activities in besieged Artsakh, where Ruben Vardanyan invested a lot of effort, trying not only to alleviate severe humanitarian needs but also to create opportunities to improve the living conditions of people and children in difficult situations.
“The fact that Ruben Vardanyan’s charity covers not only national but also international levels and has global influence and significance was considered valuable. The Aurora humanitarian initiative ” one of the major projects he authored, aims to help and reach out to all those who risk their lives to do good in all corners of the world, on all continents,” said Vardanyan’s Office.
To note, Ruben Vardanyan, together with his colleagues, implemented a total of 700 projects in Armenia, Artsakh, and the Armenian world, investing in philanthropy, education, preservation of historical and cultural heritage, tourism and infrastructure development, and a number of other fields.
Azerbaijan illegally detained Vardanyan at the Hakkari bridge checkpoint on September 27, 2023, and he is still held in prison in Baku. He faces up to 14 years in jail.
