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‘A Trial Without Evidence:’ Ruben Vardanyan Faces Injustice in Politically Charged Case
- Arpik Sahakyan, 301
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 29
A manipulated trial without evidence: the injustice faced by the former Artsakh minister, Ruben Vardanyan
On June 10, the trial against Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh, resumed in Baku. He was detained on September 27, 2023, while attempting to cross the Lachin corridor into Armenia along with thousands of displaced civilians following the Azerbaijani military offensive in the region. Since January 2025, Vardanyan has faced 42 charges, several of which carry possible life sentences.
During the public hearing held at the Military Court of Baku, presided over by Judge Zeynal Agayev and attended by Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (with Gunel Samadova as substitute judge), Vardanyan was assigned a Russian interpreter, a language he is fluent in, as well as a lawyer of his choice to ensure his defense.
At the hearing, Vardanyan again requested that his family be given a copy of the charges and asked for a review of petitions submitted in previous hearings. He also requested an expert examination to verify that the Russian translation of the indictment matched the original Azerbaijani text. However, Judge Zeynal Agayev explained that these requests had already been reviewed and resolved in earlier hearings, so the court denied both petitions. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 17.
The false charges against Vardanyan are numerous and include planning and waging a war of aggression, deportations, enforced disappearances, torture, persecution, mercenary activity, violations of the laws of war and humanitarian law, intentional homicide and attempted homicide, terrorism, financing terrorism, creation of criminal groups, illegal arms trafficking, threats to aviation security, usurpation of power, creation of illegal armed formations, and illegal border crossing.
Vardanyan’s lawyer, Jared Genser, has denounced the judicial process as riddled with violations of due process and international law. “A military court has no jurisdiction to try a civilian, and Ruben has never served in the military,” he explained in an interview with News.am. According to him, the military judges are not independent, as they report to the commander-in-chief, who is Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Genser also denounced the exclusion of independent observers and media. He pointed out that the witnesses involved in the hearing have no connection to Vardanyan, as none mentioned knowing him or having any relation to him. He also raised concerns about his client’s deteriorating health, as well as that of all other political prisoners and prisoners of war, due to inadequate medical care. It is evident that Ruben has lost a great deal of weight and has endured very difficult moments at various times due to the treatment he receives, especially since the International Committee of the Red Cross ceased operations in Azerbaijan, removing the only independent oversight capable of monitoring the situation and raising concerns with the government as they arose.
“The release of Armenian Christian prisoners is key for Azerbaijan to improve its relations with the United States,” said Genser, noting that the Trump administration is pressuring Baku to sign a peace agreement with Armenia and release the hostages. He emphasized that U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has conveyed this message to Azerbaijan’s National Security Advisor.
Genser warned that any peace agreement must include the simultaneous release of prisoners, as otherwise Armenia would be prevented from making future international claims related to the conflict. “It is essential that the prisoners be released before or at the same time as the agreement is reached, because if not, they will remain trapped indefinitely,” he explained. The United States understands that the problem is Ilham Aliyev, not Nikol Pashinyan. Finally, the lawyer stressed that his defense seeks not only Vardanyan’s release but also that of all Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war. “Ruben stands in solidarity with the other detained former Artsakh officials and wishes for all of them to return home,” he concluded.
(c) 2025, 301
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