Vardanyan accused Azerbaijani investigators of falsifying protocols

Former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan, who is in jail in Baku has stated since September 2023 that pressure was exerted on him, his lawyer and translator during the investigation. They were forced to sign "falsified protocols of failed interrogations."

Vardanyan, in an open letter sent through relatives before the start of the trial, stressed that since the day of his arrest he had not given any testimony, except for the first interrogation, "when he gave only his first and last name," and his defense lawyer was forced to sign the protocols.

"I would like to emphasize once again that all the protocols with my signature are falsification. These documents do not exist in reality. My lawyer and translator were forced to sign these documents," he said.

Vardanyan made several demands. He asks to be given the opportunity to familiarize himself with the case materials in Russian, since 422 volumes of the criminal case are presented only in the Azerbaijani language, which he does not know; eliminate all falsifications; make the trial public; combine his case with the cases of other leaders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic under investigation.

Ruben Vardanyan was detained by Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies while trying to enter Armenia on September 27, 2023 during the evacuation of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. He was charged with financing terrorism, creating illegal armed groups and illegally crossing the border of Azerbaijan. Lawyers reported that Ruben Vardanyan was subjected to harsh treatment in jail. The first hearing on his case is scheduled for January 17.

Vardanyan was told that he had been charged with 42 charges, including a life sentence.

"But so far I have not been given the opportunity to familiarize myself with the official indictment," Vardanyan writes.

Vardanyan is an entrepreneur and investor. Forbes estimated his fortune at $ 1 billion by the end of 2021. In the autumn of 2022, he renounced his Russian citizenship, went to Nagorno-Karabakh and headed the government there. Explaining the reasons for renouncing Russian citizenship, Vardanyan stated that his actions were "dictated by concern for the fate of Artsakh and its people." Vardanyan left the post of head of government in February 2023, but remained in Stepanakert.