Ruben Vardanyan has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Baku Military Court after being found guilty of a series of offences including war crimes, terrorism and crimes against humanity.
The verdict was delivered during an open hearing in the criminal case against Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen charged under articles of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code relating to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious offences.
Speaking to AnewZ, Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Parvana Valiyeva said: “An open trial was organised, so the entire world and international human rights organisations could follow it.
"They were provided all necessary services with lawyers, and thousands of witnesses were heard during the process. Irrefutable evidence and facts were collected over more than 2.5 years.”
Vardanyan served as the so-called “state minister” of the separatist entity, which operated in territory internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.
Earlier, the Baku Military Court sentenced several Armenian separatist defendants to life imprisonment in cases relating to crimes committed during the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict.
Those verdicts, delivered on 5 February, formed part of broader criminal proceedings involving charges of war crimes, terrorism, violations of the laws of war, forced displacement and the illegal seizure of power under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.
Ruben Vardanyan is an Armenian citizen and businessman who rose to prominence in Russia’s financial sector during the post-Soviet transition. Born in Yerevan in 1968, he moved to Moscow in the early 1990s and co-founded Troika Dialog with his wife, which became one of Russia’s largest private investment banks.
Troika Dialog played a key role in the development of Russia’s emerging stock market and acted as a bridge between Western investors and Russian companies. The bank was sold to Sberbank in 2012 for more than $1 billion.
In subsequent years, investigative reporting linked financial structures associated with Troika to large-scale offshore transactions, placing the institution under international scrutiny.
Vardanyan’s shift from finance to politics followed the 2020 war in the South Caucasus.
In September 2022, he renounced his Russian citizenship and relocated to the region. Two months later, he was appointed “State Minister” of the de facto authorities.
Azerbaijani officials described his presence as unlawful, arguing that by accepting a senior position within the separatist structure, he assumed political and administrative responsibility for its actions.
Prosecutors allege that during his tenure, illegal armed formations continued operating in the territory and that financial and logistical support mechanisms remained in place. Authorities contend that his position connects him to activities falling under terrorism-related and state security provisions of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.
Vardanyan has previously rejected the accusations, stating that his involvement was political and humanitarian in nature and denied participation in any armed or unlawful activity.
In September 2023, following Azerbaijan’s military operation that led to the dissolution of the separatist administration, Vardanyan was detained at the Lachin border checkpoint while attempting to leave the region.
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become &lsq...
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island&rsq...
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (28 March). ...
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of...
More than 372,000 people were left without electricity in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan after heavy rain triggered severe flooding, of...
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become ‘food for sharks’ on Sunday if the U.S. launches a ground offensive in Iran. The threat came as contingents of U.S. Marines began to arrive in the Middle East, with thousands expected to be deployed in the region.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
Russian drone attacks on Ukraine have killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday (28 March).
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of preparations for the first crewed journey towards the Moon in more than five decades
The involvement of Yemen’s Houthis has heightened regional tensions as the Iran-aligned group joins the conflict. The U.S. says it is hopeful of holding talks with Iran in the coming days, while Tehran has said that "talking and bombing is intolerable". Welcome to our live coverage of the conflict.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of preparations for the first crewed journey towards the Moon in more than five decades
Iranian Military Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zulfiqari has warned that American soldiers will become 'food for sharks' if U.S. President Donald Trump launches ground attacks against Iran. The threat comes after the U.S. military said it was deploying thousands of Marines to the region.
China is moving ahead with plans to establish a nationwide long-term care insurance system, aimed at supporting its rapidly ageing population and easing the financial burden on families caring for elderly relatives.
More than 372,000 people were left without electricity in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan after heavy rain triggered severe flooding, officials said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said his government will absorb a 56bn-rupee fuel subsidy to shield people from rising energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict.
The involvement of Yemen’s Houthis has heightened regional tensions as the Iran-aligned group joins the conflict. The U.S. says it is hopeful of holding talks with Iran in the coming days, while Tehran has said that "talking and bombing is intolerable". Welcome to our live coverage of the conflict.
AnewZ has released the official trailer for its upcoming original documentary, Halfway Across, an investigation into the systems behind illegal migration.
Hamas would have to allow its vast network of tunnels in Gaza to be destroyed as it gives up its weapons over eight months, under a disarmament plan drawn up by the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment