Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, now on trial at Baku’s Military Court on numerous terrorism and war crimes charges, has halted the hunger strike he began last month.

Vardanyan reported the news in two audio messages during a phone conversation with his family.

Vardanyan said the hunger strike was to protest the judicial farce being conducted against him.

He said he will only speak at the final court session, but only if international representatives are there.

In today's audio message, he specifically noted that his hunger strike was not only a way to protest, but also to draw attention to his unfair trial.

"I had several goals for declaring a hunger strike. To show that there is no real trial, but a bogus trial is being conducted. To show that not only I am being judged here, but all Armenians and the state itself are being judged. To show what price those who would like to stay and live in Artsakh, and not leave, had to pay," Vardanyan noted.

 See full text of Vardanyan’s message.