Former Artsakh State Minister, businessman, and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan has been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for his charitable and humanitarian work. His candidacy was proposed by several influential individuals, including a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
The initiators of the nomination viewed Ruben Vardanyan’s portrayal as a humanist and philanthropist, along with his consistent efforts to implement long-term stability and development initiatives, even during times of war, threats, financial, and political crises through humanitarian, charitable, and social projects, as impressive and deserving of international recognition.
Specifically mentioned in this context are his activities in Artsakh during the blockade, where Vardanyan made significant efforts not only to alleviate severe humanitarian needs but also to create opportunities to improve the living conditions of individuals. Vardanyan was captured by Azerbaijan on September 27, 2023, due to his past role in Artsakh’s government during the forced displacement of Armenians from Artsakh.
Apart from his philanthropic endeavors, Vardanyan has co-founded several initiatives focused on providing opportunities for the youth of Armenia. These initiatives include the “We Are Our Mountains” regional development agency, the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, UWC Dilijan College, the Armenia 2020 project, the IDea Foundation (which encompasses the Tatev Revival Project), and the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology.
