Ruben Vardanyan, a former state minister of the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, attempted a public appeal to Azerbaijan’s ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, during a phone call with his family. The call was abruptly terminated, according to his relatives. Prior to this attempt, Ruben Vardanyan had been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Baku Military Court for his role in the events surrounding the region.
He had previously held the position of state minister for three and a half months, drawing significant international attention to the self-determination issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. Following Azerbaijan’s military operation in September 2023, which led to the cessation of the 10-month blockade and the departure of nearly the entire Armenian population, Ruben Vardanyan, along with other Armenian detainees, remained in custody. His family expressed deep concern regarding his situation, citing the dismantling of independent human rights mechanisms in Azerbaijan and the departure of the International Committee of the Red Cross as contributing factors.
They feared that communication, even short phone calls, might be cut off. Ruben Vardanyan had repeatedly attempted to contact the ombudsman through legal channels, including his lawyer, written appeals, and phone calls over the preceding ten days, without success. He sought a meeting, stating that he was the only public institution he could approach given the control exerted by Azerbaijani authorities.
During the interrupted call, he detailed his inability to obtain his verdict and expressed confusion regarding the charges against him. The family released an audio recording of the appeal, hoping to ensure its delivery to Ms. Aliyeva.
The Baku Military Court had previously sentenced Ruben Vardanyan, alongside other former Karabakh officials, to lengthy prison terms, including life imprisonment for some, alleging crimes such as waging an aggressive war and financing terrorism. These trials were viewed by Armenian human rights defenders as politically motivated. The case highlights the ongoing detention and legal proceedings surrounding Armenian figures in Azerbaijan following the conflict.
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