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.
A new phase of U.S.–Central Asia cooperation emerged at the White House, with discussions centred on mineral resources, trade, and long-term regiona...
Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its forces despite a year-old ceasefire, a...
Typhoon Kalmaegi tore through Southeast Asia this week, killing at least 188 people in the Philippines before striking Vietnam’s central coast, wher...
Kazakhstan and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in critical minerals, the Kazakh presidential press service ...
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reported that Hurricane Melissa left behind almost 5 million metric tons of debris across western ...
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is expected to nominate his son, Levon Kocharyan, as the lead candidate for the “Armenia” bloc in the 2026 parliamentary elections, according to local media reports.
A wheat-loaded train has travelled to Armenia through Azerbaijan, APA reports, following President Ilham Aliyev’s announcement in Kazakhstan about lifting all post-occupation restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 4th of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Since 8 August, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been making targeted efforts to consolidate progress and deepen dialogue, Armenian National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said at a conference in Brussels.
The Champions League match between Qarabağ FK and Chelsea ended 2–2 at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan on Wednesday (5 November).
A French court has postponed the trial of a suspect linked to the Louvre jewellery heist in a separate case, citing heavy media scrutiny and concerns about the fairness of the proceedings.
A 35-year-old man drove his car into pedestrians and cyclists on France’s Oléron island on Wednesday, injuring at least nine people in an attack that has drawn attention from national leaders.
More than 10,000 supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rallied in Belgrade on Wednesday to show their backing for the populist leader’s policies, following a year of anti-government demonstrations.
Dutch smartphone maker Fairphone is entering the U.S. market, betting on growing demand for repairable and sustainable devices as right-to-repair legislation gains traction, according to Reuters.
A new phase of U.S.–Central Asia cooperation emerged at the White House, with discussions centred on mineral resources, trade, and long-term regional development.
Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its forces despite a year-old ceasefire, as Lebanon and the UN warned of renewed border tensions.
Tensions between Brussels and Tbilisi are deepening following the European Commission’s latest enlargement report, which delivers one of the most critical assessments of Georgia’s progress toward European integration in recent years.
The Israeli military carried out heavy airstrikes on south Lebanon on Thursday after issuing evacuation orders for three locations, saying Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was trying to rebuild its military capabilities there.
Authorities in South Korea fear five people remain trapped on Thursday after the collapse of a large structure at a power station in the city of Ulsan, a fire official said, although four others were pulled from the rubble.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment