At the 2025 Aurora Prize ceremony, Paul Polman — business leader, sustainability advocate, and member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee — spoke about Ruben Vardanyan, philanthropist and Aurora co-founder, currently illegally detained in Azerbaijan, according to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.
“Ruben reminds us that purpose is stronger than punishment,” Polman stated.
“One of the greatest injustices of our time is to imprison a man who has built platforms for human freedom. It reminds us how fragile justice can be and how vital it is to speak out against injustice,” he said, as quoted by Panorama.am .
“Ruben created opportunity from scarcity, built schools where none existed, and forged bridges of trust in the face of conflicts many deemed irreconcilable. He has seen the worst in humanity and the most neglected places on Earth. Aurora was born of the same belief that gratitude is not just a feeling but a responsibility and compassion is meaningless unless it moves us to act,” Polman continued.
Reflecting on Vardanyan’s legacy, Polman noted that although his absence is deeply felt, his spirit continues to inspire Aurora to carry on its mission and fuel a global movement for justice and hope.
On November 24, Ruben Vardanyan’s politically motivated trial in Baku resumed, widely denounced as a legal farce.
