Today, on the second anniversary of Ruben Vardanyan's illegal arrest, his son, Davit Vardanyan, gave an interview to CivilNet.

  • Regarding the conditions in which my father is being held, unfortunately, as has been the case over the past years, we have very little information about his actual circumstances — especially now that the Red Cross is no longer operating in Azerbaijan. From what we do know, he is being held in solitary confinement. We don’t have precise details about his health. According to him, he says he is fine and urges us not to worry, but as you can understand, he would likely say that regardless of his situation. However, I believe what he has always emphasized is that the conditions of his detention are less important than the reasons behind his arrest and the arrest of the other 22 Christian Armenian hostages.
  • Most people — including myself, before we became relatives of a hostage — don’t fully appreciate just how vital the Red Cross is worldwide, not only in Azerbaijan or Armenia, but in many conflict zones around the globe. The Red Cross served two crucial roles. First, it was the only independent organization able to monitor the health and conditions of the hostages. While they couldn’t influence how the host country treated the prisoners, they could provide families with reliable — or at least somewhat reliable — information, which is incredibly important for our peace of mind. The second key role the Red Cross played was facilitating video messages. Being able to actually see him, even if there was a delay in receiving the messages, gave us a crucial visual connection. Sadly, that connection is now completely lost.
  • The USA President Trump's team has been really much more willing to listen, and actually proactive in trying to resolve the issue of the 23 Armenian Christian hostages. In his United Nations speech, he clearly highlighted that Christians are the most persecuted religion in the world, and he is going to fight for that. Nonetheless, what was said publicly in Washington in August is definitely not enough for us, and I think for all Armenians.Тrue peace cannot be achieved without the release of the Christian hostages. That said, it is encouraging to know that efforts are being made behind the scenes. Still, we need to do much more to push this agenda forward.
  • I think this is a really critical moment for us to come together. We have a unique opportunity right now. First, we have the largest international Armenian diaspora in key countries around the world — everyone is well aware of these countries. But beyond that, the issues that matter most to the major international players align with strengths that Armenians possess. We have significant expertise in IT and technology. We are the oldest Christian nation in the world, and we are a democracy — a rare and powerful combination in our region. So, we have all the tools we need. The real question is: can we truly come together, put aside our differences, and unite — not just to bring the hostages home, but to secure a genuine, lasting peace, that is more than just words signed on paper?