Pakistani human rights activist Syeda Ghulam Fatima is planning to travel to Baku to attend the court hearing of former State Minister of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Ruben Vardanyan, who is being unlawfully detained and subjected to a sham trial on false charges in Azerbaijan.

In an interview to Armenia News - NEWS.am, Ms. Fatima said she hopes that she will be allowed to attend the hearing.

“Since Pakistanis can freely go to Azerbaijan, I decided that I should go, see what the situation is there, what is happening with Ruben, in what conditions he is being held and what trial is underway against him,” she said.

Ms. Fatima, a finalist for the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity in 2016 - a humanitarian initiative founded by Armenian businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan - stated that he is innocent and urged human rights activists to fight for his freedom.

“I met with Ruben Vardanyan several times before hiss arrest. He is a wonderful person and he is innocent. We live in an unjust world. It is quite difficult to achieve justice, but we must try, we must fight for his freedom. He should not suffer. All those who are human rights activists should raise their voices and fight for his freedom. We must try, they should not leave him alone. He is a very good person, a humanist, and has fought for human rights and peace, so he should not be in this situation,” she said.