Ruben Vardanyan delivers final statement in Baku trial

Ruben Vardanyan, the last of the known Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan yet to be sentenced, delivered the closing statement of his trial in a Baku military court Tuesday. 

The jailed philanthropist and former Artsakh State Minister refused to mount a defense throughout his trial, and he has characterized the trial as “an imitation of justice” because the proceedings “do not meet the basic standards of a fair trial and therefore cannot be regarded as a court in the true sense of the word.” 

Instead, he spoke of “dignity, responsibility, and peace” and recited Azerbaijani poetry, according to a press release containing details of an audio message Vardanyan sent to his family. 

Azerbaijani press reports mentioned Vardanyan’s discovery of Azerbaijani poetry during his two years in detention, but did not provide details of his message. According to Vardanyan’s message, one of the two poems he recited was a Russian translation of the 16th century poet Fuzuli, saying that “it probably relates even more to Armenia than to the place where I am now.” 

Vardanyan said at the poem’s closing line “for a fleeting crust of bread, do not become a servant,” he added “and not even for trainloads of gasoline,” referencing recent imports of fuel by Armenia from Azerbaijan. 

Vardanyan continued that there can be no peace if one side is forced to humiliate itself to the other, and that the two countries must exist as equal neighbors. 

In addition, he said that he repeated three times, over attempts to interrupt him, that “Artsakh has existed, Artsakh exists, and Artsakh will exist in an existential sense. It was, it is, and it will be.” 

He concluded that he is “proud to represent the Armenian people here” and was not afraid of any punishment or decision he might receive, but will receive it calmly. He regretted that the Azerbaijani state “did not take advantage of the chance to conduct a genuine judicial process that could have laid the foundation for truly long-term peace.” 

Vardanyan is expected to be sentenced to life imprisonment later this month. Last week, the court sentenced the other seven former Artsakh leaders in captivity, with Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan receiving 20 years rather than life due to their being at least 65 years old. 

US Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that the issue of the prisoners would be raised with President Ilham Aliyev during his trip to Azerbaijan which concluded today.