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Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan shared on Instagram Armenian social entrepreneur and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan's message conveyed to his family during a weekly phone call.

Mkhitaryan used the hashtags “Free Ruben Vardanyan” and “Free Armenian Prisoners” in his Instagram story, tagging the UN, UNESCO and other international human rights organizations.

In his statement publicized one day before the start of his trial in Baku, Vardanyan again rejected the criminal charges brought against him as politically motivated and accused Azerbaijani investigators of attributing false testimony to him.

"I officially declare: I have given no testimony since the day of my arrest, except during the first interrogation, where I only stated my name and surname. Let me reiterate: all protocols bearing my signature are falsifications. These documents do not exist in reality. My lawyer and interpreter were coerced into signing these documents. I once again reiterate and state my complete innocence and the innocence of my Armenian compatriots also being held as political prisoners and demand an immediate end to this politically motivated case against us," reads the statement.