The trial of Ruben Vardanyan in Azerbaijan is drawing international attention, as he faces serious charges of war crimes and terrorism, while Ukrainian lawmakers intensify their criticism over his alleged ties to the Kremlin.
The trial against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused of torture, mercenary activities, war crimes, terrorism, and financing terrorism, is underway in Azerbaijan. He is alleged to have funded and organized illegal armed groups in Karabakh. V
ardanyan’s controversial background extends beyond the current charges. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed his involvement in transferring billions through offshore accounts via his company, "Troika Dialog," allegedly benefiting Russian oligarchs and state-linked entities. He renounced his Russian citizenship in 2022 to avoid Western sanctions but was later sanctioned by Ukraine for supporting the Russian occupation army.
His trial has reignited debates among Ukrainian lawmakers regarding his international criminal activities. Yuriy Kamelchuk, an MP from the Servant of the People party, posted videos online, stating that Vardanyan is completely discredited.
He added that if Vardanyan were not in custody in Azerbaijan, he should be delivered to Ukraine or Lithuania, referring to the 'Myrotvorets' website, which calls for his immediate detention and transfer to law enforcement agencies of Ukraine or NATO countries.
Mykola Halushko, Kamelchuk's party colleague, labeled Vardanyan as “Putin's Russian puppet and wallet” on Facebook. His statement was backed by Oleksandr Fediyenko, who emphasized Vardanyan’s closeness to Putin and his role as a financial supporter of Russian aggression. Fediyenko noted that since 2019, Vardanyan’s name has appeared in investigations and sanctions lists of the USA, EU, and Ukraine.
Tatyana Grischenko, another Ukrainian MP, condemned Vardanyan’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination. She expressed hope that the Azerbaijani court would end his influence as a “hero” of Kremlin propaganda, stating that Ukraine, the USA, and the EU have already sanctioned him, but sanctions alone are not enough, and only a real prison term will stop this crime machine.
Ruben Vardanyan relocated to Karabakh in 2022 and became State Minister in the unrecognized "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic." His arrest on September 27, 2023, was a turning point. Azerbaijani forces detained him while he attempted to cross into Armenia, citing substantial evidence of terrorism and other crimes.
The trial continues to attract international attention as political figures and governments respond to the allegations and ongoing legal proceedings.
Turkish construction giants Kalyon Insaat and Cengiz Insaat will take part in the modernisation and expansion of Damascus International Airport, a pro...
As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing conn...
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited sailors aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in the Latin American region on Thursday, amid a...
Former Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos was taken to Soto del Real prison on Thursday following a ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court ordering his pr...
massive fire that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong’s northern district of Tai Po has claimed 83 lives, with nearly 300 ...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made his first official visit to Astana, marking a significant event in bilateral relations.
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian’s official visit to Georgia is testimony to a rapidly strengthening partnership between the two neighbouring state following the initialling of the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will travel to Astana for an official visit from the 20th –21st November, according to the press service of Akorda.
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with Allison Hooker, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs, in Yerevan on Monday.
massive fire that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong’s northern district of Tai Po has claimed 83 lives, with nearly 300 residents initially reported missing, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
A passenger aircraft from Polish carrier LOT veered off a taxiway at Lithuania's Vilnius airport after arriving from Warsaw on Wednesday, halting all traffic, the airport operator said.
At least 36 people have died in a fire that ravaged a residential apartment complex on Wednesday according to John Lee the chief executive of Hong Kong.
Netflix crashed on Wednesday for about an hour in the U.S. as it launched season five of "Stranger Things", with the service becoming inaccessible to many subscribers within minutes of the episodes going live at 8 p.m. local time.
Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets of Sofia on Wednesday to protest against the government’s draft budget for 2026, the first to be prepared in euros ahead of the country’s planned eurozone entry on 1 January 2026.
On 27 November, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Luca Beccari, San Marino’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs, International Economic Cooperation and Digital Transition, during an official visit to Italy.
Turkish construction giants Kalyon Insaat and Cengiz Insaat will take part in the modernisation and expansion of Damascus International Airport, a project also involving Qatari firm UCC, US-based Assets Investments, the Syrian Finance Ministry, and the Syrian Civil Aviation General Authority.
As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing connectivity ambitions into concrete trade routes, investment deals and infrastructure upgrades.
Pope Leo continued his visit to Türkiye in Istanbul on Thursday (27 November), following a round of meetings in Ankara. This marks his first trip outside Italy since being elected in May as the leader of the 1.4-billion-strong Catholic Church.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Alan Purcell met with Georgia’s Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili to discuss economic ties, sanctions, and Georgia’s potential role in the U.S. TRIPP regional initiative.According to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, the discussion touched on Georgia’s economic development, U.S.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment