Amnesty International: Azerbaijani Authorities Must Guarantee Fair Trial Rights for Ruben Vardanyan and Investigate Alleged Rights Violations

BAKU — Addressing the trial of former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, Marie Struthers, emphasized the need for Azerbaijan to ensure his fair trial rights.

“The Azerbaijani authorities claim they have put Ruben Vardanyan on trial to hold him accountable for alleged crimes. However, by denying him fair trial rights, they are undermining justice,” said Struthers. “Authorities must uphold Ruben Vardanyan’s fair trial rights and ensure accountability through lawful and transparent processes.”

Vardanyan has alleged serious human rights violations, including ill-treatment in detention, being coerced into signing falsified case materials, and being denied the opportunity to prepare his defense. “Authorities must promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, and effectively investigate these grave allegations and hold accountable those responsible for any violations,” Struthers added.

Amnesty International also called on Azerbaijani authorities to provide Vardanyan full access to his lawyers, as well as adequate time and resources to prepare his defense.

“The international community must closely monitor this high-profile case to safeguard Ruben Vardanyan’s fair trial rights and ensure justice,” Struthers urged.

Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent businessman and philanthropist who moved to Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022 and became its de facto State Minister the same year, was detained by Azerbaijani authorities on September 27, 2023, during the mass exodus of ethnic Armenians following Azerbaijan’s military takeover. He has been in detention since and faces multiple charges, including “financing terrorism” and “creating illegal armed groups.”

In an open letter attributed to him and published in the media, Vardanyan detailed numerous alleged human rights violations. These include spending most of his detention in solitary confinement and punishment cells, being deprived of basic hygiene, facing pressure to sign backdated falsified documents, and being given just one month to familiarize himself and his defense team with extensive case materials in Azeri, a language he does not understand.