Azerbaijan detains ex-state minister of so-called Armenian administration in Karabakh region

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) – Azerbaijani authorities on Wednesday detained Ruben Vardanyan, one of former "state ministers" of so-called Armenian administration in the Karabakh region.

Vardanyan was detained by border guards while trying to cross from Azerbaijan to Armenia, the Azerbaijan State Border Services said in a statement.

He was brought to the capital Baku and referred to the relevant authorities.

Ruben Vardanyan, who was living in Russia and was a Russian citizen, applied for denaturalization in September 2022.

He came to Karabakh and served as "minister of state" in the so-called Armenian administration.

Vardanyan, who was deprived of citizenship by Russia, was later dismissed by the so-called administration in Karabakh.

Vardanyan has a criminal history such as money laundering, illegal arms, and drug trade. He also made provocative statements against Azerbaijan on his social media accounts.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

In the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages, and settlements from Armenian occupation during 44 days of clashes. The war ended that November with a Russia-brokered cease-fire.

Tensions between the two nations, however, continue despite ongoing talks aiming for a long-term peace deal.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are set to meet on Oct. 5 in the Spanish city of Granada to discuss the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar