Ruben Vardanyan’s Son Calls on Trump to Defend Armenian Christians in Fox News Op-Ed

For more than 550 days, Armenian philanthropist and businessman Ruben Vardanyan has been held in an Azerbaijani prison—without fair trial, without freedom, and without justice. His only "crime"? Standing up for the rights of Armenians to live peacefully in their ancestral lands.

Now, his son, David Vardanyan, is calling on the United States and President Donald Trump to help secure his father's release—as well as the release of more than two dozen other Armenian Christian political prisoners illegally held in Azerbaijan.

“My father has spent over 550 days in prison simply for being a Christian and an Armenian,” says David Vardanyan, who recently shared his plea through a Fox News Op-Ed. “He has always believed in helping others. That’s why he dedicated the last 10 years of his life to philanthropy, especially in Armenia.”

Ruben Vardanyan is widely known not just as a successful businessman but also as a global humanitarian. He co-founded the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, which honors those who risk their lives to save others in war-torn and conflict-ridden areas like Rwanda, Iran, and Afghanistan. His work has gained international praise and brought attention to overlooked crises around the world.

But none of that protected him when he stood up for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh—also known as Artsakh.

In 2023, Azerbaijan launched a violent assault on Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing over 120,000 Armenian Christians to flee within a matter of hours. These families abandoned their homes, churches, and the graves of their ancestors—places that had been theirs for generations.

Some elderly villagers collapsed while walking for miles through mountain passes. Families were split apart. Children went hungry. It was nothing less than ethnic cleansing.

Ruben Vardanyan, who had moved to Artsakh to support the local community and bring international attention to their struggle, was among those arrested by Azerbaijani forces. He has been detained ever since—cut off from his family, denied his freedom, and treated as a political pawn.

He is not alone. Human rights groups report that at least 23 other Armenian Christians are illegally detained in Azerbaijan. On top of that, over 300 Azerbaijani and Armenian political prisoners—including journalists and human rights activists—are currently held by the Azerbaijani regime.

David Vardanyan points to a powerful piece of American history: When the Ottoman Empire carried out the Armenian Genocide in 1915, the United States responded with compassion and action. President Woodrow Wilson called attention to the crisis, and everyday Americans raised what would now be billions of dollars to save Armenian orphans and refugees.

That legacy is alive in American culture today—through public figures like Cher, Kim Kardashian, and Andre Agassi, all descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors.

David believes that same spirit of leadership and compassion can be revived today, urging Donald Trump to step forward. Trump has previously vowed to protect persecuted Armenian Christians. His former National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, has also spoken out in support of freeing the Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.

“We ask President Trump to be a President of Peace,” David said. “He can pressure Azerbaijan to follow international laws and release my father and the other Armenian prisoners.” This is a test of moral leadership.

Ruben Vardanyan never set out to become a political figure. His work—both in business and philanthropy—has always focused on building, not breaking; on healing, not hurting.

His son, David, is now carrying that mission forward. A seasoned professional in international business and development, David has put his career aside to fight for his father’s freedom—and for the freedom of every Armenian wrongly imprisoned in Baku.

“This is not just about my father,” David explains. “It’s about all the people who have been silenced for their identity, their faith, and their courage. We will not stop until they are free.”

As Azerbaijan continues to silence voices of dissent and erase Armenian presence from Nagorno-Karabakh, the international community faces a choice: Speak out or stay silent.

Armenians around the world—especially in the diaspora—are watching closely. The memory of genocide, displacement, and survival is alive in every Armenian family. Once again, history is repeating itself—and once again, Armenians are asking the world to care.

Will America rise to the moment as it did over a century ago?

That answer may lie in whether Ruben Vardanyan and the others return home.