Azerbaijan Threatens Ruben Vardanyan of 45 New Charges and Life Imprisonment

In an escalation of its campaign against Armenians, Azerbaijan has introduced 45 new charges against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian humanitarian and political prisoner. If convicted, Vardanyan could face life imprisonment. His legal team has described the charges as baseless and politically motivated, showing a systematic violation of international law.

The charges, spanning 20 articles of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, are backed by what the Azerbaijani regime claims is evidence compiled in over 25,000 pages across 100 volumes—all written in Azeri. Ruben Vardanyan and his legal team are not permitted to access this material freely. Instead, they are only allowed to review it under strict limitations, without proper translations or the ability to take notes, ostensibly due to “national security” concerns. This lack of transparency and access has made it nearly impossible for Vardanyan’s counsel to prepare an adequate defense, reports Free Armenian Prisoners.

The charges, spanning 20 articles of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, are backed by what the Azerbaijani regime claims is evidence compiled in over 25,000 pages across 100 volumes—all written in Azeri. Ruben Vardanyan and his legal team are not permitted to access this material freely. Instead, they are only allowed to review it under strict limitations, without proper translations or the ability to take notes, ostensibly due to “national security” concerns. This lack of transparency and access has made it nearly impossible for Vardanyan’s counsel to prepare an adequate defense.

Jared Genser, Vardanyan’s legal counsel, condemned the move as a “flagrant violation of Azerbaijan’s obligations under international law.” Genser criticized the Azerbaijani government for using the charges to deflect blame for its own actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. “The charges are a transparently brazen attempt to pin the blame for the regime’s ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh on Ruben,” he said. “The refusal to make public the evidence or provide it to the defense shows that this is a political show trial, not a legitimate legal proceeding.”

Vardanyan’s family and supporters view this legal assault as part of a broader campaign by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to silence dissent. Ruben Vardanyan served as State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh from November 2022 to February 2023, during which he implemented programs aimed at improving the lives of its citizens. For his efforts, he now faces life imprisonment in what his son, David Vardanyan, called a “travesty of justice.”

“The charges against my father are not just an attack on him but a message to all Armenians that no one is safe from this regime,” said David. “It has been over two years since our family has seen him. If the democratic world doesn’t act now, we may never see him again.”

Vardanyan’s trial, which has already faced multiple delays, is expected to lack independence or impartiality. His imprisonment conditions have drawn criticism for violating international standards. Observers warn that this trial may set a dangerous precedent for suppressing dissent and targeting political figures through fabricated charges.

The family is calling on the international community to act swiftly. “The democratic world must ensure that international organizations and media are present during the trial,” urged David Vardanyan. “Such flagrant violations of human rights cannot go unanswered.”

Ruben Vardanyan’s arrest comes during increasing scrutiny of Azerbaijan’s actions in Nagorno-Karabakh, where allegations of ethnic cleansing and human rights violations have garnered global attention. Critics argue that Vardanyan is being used as a scapegoat to justify the regime’s actions and distract from its failures.

International human rights organizations and governments are being urged to intervene. “The charges against Ruben Vardanyan highlight the urgent need for the international community to hold Azerbaijan accountable,” said Genser. “This case is a litmus test for whether the world will stand up for justice and human rights.”

Whether the international community will rise to the occasion remains to be seen, but the calls for action are growing louder. For now, Vardanyan’s fate rests in the hands of a regime determined to silence dissent—and in the resolve of a world that must decide whether to let it succeed.