Veronika Zonabend, wife of Armenian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan (who has been illegally detained in a Baku prison since September 2023), has donated a fine art collection consisting of 20 large-scale canvases to the city of Gyumri.

Titled “War and Peace,” these works form part of the broader “100 Canvases” collection, which features works by prominent Armenian and Russian Socialist Realist painters selected from the private collections of Ruben Vardanyan, Vladimir Avetisyan, and Vladimir Nekrasov.

Dedicated to the memory of World War II and the post-war era, the canvases gifted to Gyumri include notable works by Belerfon Dalakyan, Viktor Abrahamyan, Alexander Tatarenko, Nikolai Lomakin, and other artists. These pieces have previously been featured in numerous international exhibitions.

"Gyumri has always been a special city for Ruben, and he has contributed to its development through his foundation. In particular, the restoration of Friendship Park, which he initiated, was a significant investment in urban development and creating better conditions for future generations. I am glad that these selected canvases will become part of the heritage of Gyumri, a city with rich cultural traditions, and will be put on public display," said Veronika Zonabend.

Avetis Arakelyan, acting head of the Gyumri Community, noted that the city accepts this valuable donation with deep gratitude and joy.

The artwork has been handed over to the Kumayri Historic and Cultural Museum-Reserve of Gyumri.

"We are delighted that our museum is being enriched with such a valuable collection, and we are grateful to Mrs. Zonabend for this generous donation. The canvases will find their rightful place in our museum, and we will soon present them to art lovers, residents, and guests of the city through an exhibition," said Inga Avagyan, director of the Kumayri Museum-Reserve.