Armenian Christians confront global silence as 120,000 have been forcefully driven from their ancient country in Nagorno-Karabakh, with benefactor Ruben Vardanyan imprisoned for over 550 days solely for protecting their right to exist. The tragedy of this modern ethnic cleansing and America’s historical commitment to defending Armenian Christians demonstrates how our nation’s moral leadership could save thousands of innocent lives.
America’s Forgotten Commitment to Armenian Christians
Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing campaign forced 120,000 Armenian Christians to flee their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh within just 24 hours, creating a humanitarian crisis largely ignored by Western media. This exodus represents the complete emptying of a region where Armenians have lived for thousands of years, with families separated, children left without food, and the elderly forced to navigate treacherous mountain paths.
Impunity prevails for #Azerbaijan's violation of the rights of Armenians in #NagornoKarabakh, according to a report by the #HumanRights organization Amnesty International. https://t.co/EOmmHLSNAx
— Anna A. Naghdalyan (@naghdalyan) April 30, 2025
The United States once led global efforts to protect Armenian Christians during the Ottoman genocide, raising millions through the Near East Relief Foundation at President Wilson’s urging. Americans opened their hearts and wallets to help those President Wilson called “the starving Armenians,” demonstrating our nation’s historical commitment to religious liberty and humanitarian action.
Ruben Vardanyan: Prisoner for Defending Christian Heritage
Billionaire philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan has been imprisoned in Azerbaijan for over 550 days, facing a closed-door trial on fabricated charges of terrorism simply for defending Armenian Christians’ right to remain in their homeland. Vardanyan, who renounced his Russian citizenship and moved to Artsakh to draw global attention to the plight of Armenians, has become a symbol of Christian persecution in a region increasingly dominated by authoritarian Islamic leadership.
Amnesty International on Armenia:
The government struggled to integrate more than 100,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. Freedoms of expression & peaceful assembly were curtailed on several occasions and journalists and environmental defenders were threatened and harassed. pic.twitter.com/AZg9qWPtGU— Hov Nazaretyan (@HovhanNaz) April 30, 2025
Azerbaijan currently holds over 300 political prisoners, including at least 23 Armenian Christians alongside Vardanyan, while conducting a systematic erasure of Armenian Christian cultural heritage. This persecution represents a direct assault on religious liberty and traditional Christian communities that have existed in the region since the earliest days of Christianity.
How America Can Lead Again
Survivors of previous Armenian genocides and their descendants have contributed significantly to American culture, with figures like Cher and Kim Kardashian representing the success of this community. The current crisis offers an opportunity for America to reclaim its moral leadership by securing the release of Vardanyan and other Armenian prisoners while holding Azerbaijan accountable for ethnic cleansing.
“This is my first pitch,” Garin Hovannisian stated when addressing Vardanyan’s imprisonment, highlighting the urgent need for international action to secure his release. Vardanyan’s humanitarian legacy includes establishing prestigious educational institutions in Armenia and creating the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, demonstrating his commitment to Christian values of charity and community service.
🇦🇿🇦🇲The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, an #Armenian citizen accused of multiple charges including torture, mercenary activity, violation of the laws and customs of #war, #terrorism, financing terrorism and other articles of the #Criminal Code of the Republic of #Azerbaijan, continued… pic.twitter.com/pHFBvfHi7K
— Caliber English (@CaliberEnglish) April 29, 2025
President Trump and congressional leaders like Michael Waltz have signaled interest in addressing this humanitarian crisis, recognizing America’s historical role in protecting persecuted Christians around the world. Renewed American leadership could secure Vardanyan’s freedom and restore our nation’s traditional role as a defender of religious liberty and human dignity against authoritarian oppression.
Sources:
https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/freedom-for-ruben-vardanyan-the-armenian-prisoners/
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/my-dad-has-been-prison-more-than-550-days-simply-being-christian