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.
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