“The trial against Russian-Armenian philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, a talented businessman who risked everything and headed the government of Nagorno-Karabakh, sincerely rooting for all its inhabitants, has started in Azerbaijan.
It is strange that the case of the former Artsakh premier is being heard by a military court and not a civilian one, although Vardanyan did not take part in military actions, but focused his efforts on the humanitarian situation in the blockaded region, for which he was later nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Before the trial began, Vardanyan stated through his family that he had not given any testimony at all during this year and a half of the investigation, had not signed any interrogation reports, and had not even been allowed to get acquainted with the case file. It seems that the case, as they say, does not hold water. Ruben Vardanyan himself insists on his complete innocence.
Aliyev said that Moscow was interested in Vardanyan’s fate, Vladimir Putin urged Aliyev to show mercy to the prisoners. But there are no visible results of any work so far. It is a shame, because Vardanyan could seriously strengthen Russia’s position in the South Caucasus”.
