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.
Spanish football club Real Madrid has appointed José Mourinho as its new manager. The 63-year-old nicknamed “the special one” returns to the hel...
U.S. Donald Trump has said he has cancelled planned strikes on Iranian oil and gas ports announced earlier on Thursday. Trump said he made the decisio...
Pakistan says it has killed 26 militants in strikes on terrorist hideouts along the Afghan border, marking the most significant escalation between the...
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has found that xAI’s Grok chatbot and its parent company X Corp. violated federal privacy law by launching an AI ima...
China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family...
Azerbaijan dispatched 17 railway wagons carrying 984 tonnes of diesel fuel to Armenia on Thursday, marking the latest shipment in growing trade between the two countries.
Türkiye welcomed Armenia's parliamentary election result on Monday, urging Yerevan to take "bolder steps" towards regional peace and diplomatic normalisation.
Armenia’s parliamentary election has strengthened Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s mandate, with analysts linking the result to his post-Garabagh agenda and pro-Western direction. However, constitutional constraints remain a key obstacle to peace efforts with Azerbaijan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
Mexico and South Africa meet in Thursday’s World Cup opener in Mexico City, with both teams approaching the match from very different positions but facing their own pressures.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Russia has once again offered warm words to Tbilisi, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praising Georgia's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and saying Moscow is ready to deepen ties.
Azerbaijan dispatched 17 railway wagons carrying 984 tonnes of diesel fuel to Armenia on Thursday, marking the latest shipment in growing trade between the two countries.
The U.S. is deepening engagement with Central Asia on critical minerals as global competition for strategic resources intensifies. The issue dominated talks in Astana between Washington and the five Central Asian states.
Israel's cabinet is expected to approve a plan on Thursday (11 June) to allocate around one billion shekels ($338 million) for settlement development in the West Bank, according to reports and anti-settlement campaigners.
India is expected to receive below-average rainfall over the next two weeks, particularly across central and northern regions, as weather systems known as western disturbances slow the advance of the annual monsoon, senior weather officials said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment