“Many people in the room have known Ruben for decades, and they knew him as the heart and soul of this project. It's been a very painful experience for us and Armenians, particularly the Diaspora, to see a brother of ours imprisoned for his beliefs and for his humanitarian activity. I want to call on the President and the Ambassador and all of our colleagues in the Armenian Government to prioritize seeking the release of not only Ruben, but also all the other political prisoners. I appreciate the bind that the Armenian Government is in surrounded by essentially hostile governments constantly under pressure for their mere existence. Nevertheless, in the face of that kind of atrocity threat, they, like the humanitarians we're honoring tonight, have to stand up for what's right, ultimately seeking peace at the expense of justice guarantees neither peace nor justice.”

Watch the speech of Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, at the 2024 Aurora Prize Ceremony. In his address, he urged the Armenian Government to prioritize the release of Ruben Vardanyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, and all political prisoners. He also highlighted Aurora's global impact and the ongoing regional and global crises, emphasizing the crucial role of individual heroes in addressing these challenges.