Politician urges U.S. vice president to help release Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan

Mane Tandilyan, the leader of the Country to Live party, has delivered a letter to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance through diplomatic channels, requesting his mediation in securing the release of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan. The full text of the letter is provided below.

"Vice President of the United States

The White House

Dear Mr. Vice President,

On behalf of our party Country to Live, I wish to extend our highest regards as you embark on your diplomatic mission to the South Caucasus. Your visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan signifies a critical juncture in American foreign policy in this volatile region and at a pivotal moment for its future, following the peace frameworks established this past year. Your visit also offers a unique window of opportunity to address a humanitarian grievance that continues to destabilize the region.

Our party has been closely cooperating with Ruben Vardanyan - a globally recognized humanitarian, entrepreneur, and devoted Christian - who cunently, remains in prison in Azerbaijani capital Baku alongside 19 other Armenian humanitarian leaders and former officials. These individuals, who served their community in Nagorno-Karabakh, are enduring an arduous ordeal characterized by "mock trials" and systemic isolation.

I am writing to you today not only as a professional colleague of Mr. Vardanyan but as a mother and as someone who shares your deep commitment to the Christian values ofjustice, mercy, and the protection of the persecuted.

The plight of these men is not merely a political dispute, but a profound moral crisis striking at the heart of the Christian ideals of dignity and justice.

As you prepare for your meetings in Baku, I respectfully urge you to make the immediate and unconditional release of these 20 Armenian prisoners a priority of your diplomatic mission.

The return of these 20 individuals would provide an immense sense of relief and justice to thousands of families across the Armenian Diaspora, including a significant and vibrant community within the United States.

A lasting and dignified peace in the South Caucasus-a primary goal of the current administration's regional strategy-cannot be built upon the continued illegal detention of humanitarians. The efforts to establish a permanent peace in this volatile region will only reach fruition when the humanitarian slate is cleared. Ruben Vardanyan has dedicated his life to philanthropy and the

befferment of humanity; his continued imprisonment is a stain on the progress the region seeks to achieve.

For the "Tiump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) to succeed, it must be built on a foundation of trust. By securing the return of these hostages, the United States will solidiff its position as a decisive and principled peace broker, proving that American diplomacy values human life as much as strategic corridors.

We respectfully urge you to utilize the full weighl of your office to ensure that these men are reunited with their families. Your leadership in this matter would serve as a powerful testament to the enduring American commitment to faith, freedom, and the rule of law․"