Armenian football star Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Canadian-Armenian billionaire Noubar Afeyan, and tennis star Karen Khachanov have taken to social media to share Ruben Vardanyan’s statement and make public appeals regarding his case. Mkhitaryan and Khachanov demanded the release of Vardanyan and all other detainees unlawfully incarcerated in Azerbaijan, tagging international human rights organizations to raise global attention, while Afeyan called for vigilance to avoid a “grotesque injustice” in the process. Their appeals to the global community come as Vardanyan faces a politically motivated trial starting today in Baku, Azerbaijan, on fabricated charges, reports Zartonk Media.
On Instagram, Mkhitaryan shared Ruben Vardanyan’s recent statement with his 2.6 million followers, using the hashtags “#FreeRubenVardanyan” and “#FreeArmenianPrisoners” in his Instagram story. He also tagged several international human rights organizations, including @UnitedNationsWatch, @UNGeneva, @AmnestyItalia, @Amnesty, @FreedomFromTorture, @UNESCO, @HRF, @HumanRightsWatch, @Article19org, @InternationalCriminalCourt, @Refugees, and @the_anti_slavery_collective, urging global attention to the case.
On Instagram, Khachanov shared Ruben Vardanyan’s recent statement, using the hashtags “#FreeRubenVardanyan” and “#FreeArmenianPrisoners” in his Instagram story. He also tagged several international human rights organizations, including @UnitedNations, @UNESCO, @HumanRightsWatch, and @Amnesty, urging global attention to the case.
On X (formerly Twitter), Mkhitaryan reposted Vardanyan’s statement to his 1.4 million followers, directly calling on the @UN, @UNGeneva, @UNWatch, @Amnesty, @AmnestyItalia, @UNESCO, @HRF, @HumanRights, @Article19org, @IntlCrimCourt, @Refugees, and @RefugeesMedia to “Act” and address the situation. Mkhitaryan is a midfielder for Italy’s Inter Milan and former captain of Armenia’s national football team.
On X, Afeyan said: “Please read these compelling facts. We should all remain vigilant, and do what we can to promote the prospect of a fair trial and avoid a grotesque injustice.” Afeyan is an American-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, the Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, and co-founder of Moderna.
Background on Ruben Vardanyan
Ruben Vardanyan, the former State Minister of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), has been unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan since September 27, 2023. During his weekly phone call with his family on January 16, 2025, Vardanyan reiterated his innocence, stating that he has given no testimony since his arrest and that all documents bearing his signature are falsifications. He described the charges against him, including “financing terrorism” and “illegally entering” Artsakh, as fabricated.
A court hearing is scheduled for January 17 at 3:00 PM in Baku and is widely seen as a show trial. Vardanyan, along with many international experts, including former ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, has slammed the charges as bogus and politically motivated, emphasizing that Baku is using the show trials to cover up its crimes in Artsakh.
Context of Azerbaijani Actions
In 2023, Azerbaijan’s armed forces invaded Artsakh, leading to the forced displacement of nearly 120,000 Armenians. During the exodus, Vardanyan and seven other former officials were arrested. Azerbaijan has since refused to release numerous prisoners of war and civilians, raising concerns among international human rights organizations.
Global Call for Action
Afeyan’s, Mkhitaryan’s, and Khachanov’s appeals amplify growing calls from the international community for immediate action to secure the release of Vardanyan and other Armenian prisoners. Their advocacy highlights the urgency of addressing Azerbaijan’s ongoing human rights abuses and ensuring accountability for the treatment of Armenian detainees. The trial is a critical moment for accountability and justice, as it sheds light on Azerbaijan’s ongoing human rights abuses in the region.
