Baku-Based Lawyer for Ruben Vardanyan Breaks Silence, Condemns Sham Trial

The criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), currently detained in Baku, has come under serious international scrutiny. His defense lawyer in Baku, Avraam Berman, issued a powerful legal commentary today raising deep concerns over the legality, fairness, and intent behind the trial. 

This trial is being dressed up in legal language, but many observers see it for what it is: a sham trial. One that attempts to criminalize leadership, humanitarian action, and the Armenian identity.

According to Berman, Azerbaijani prosecutors have failed to meet even the most basic standards of modern criminal law. Central to his defense is the principle of individual criminal responsibility—meaning a person can only be held accountable for specific, proven actions they personally committed.

This principle, found in Azerbaijan’s own Criminal Code and in international law, is being ignored. The charges brought against Vardanyan do not point to any act he personally committed that would meet the legal definition of a crime. Instead, they appear to rely on vague associations and political motivations.

“This is not justice,” says Berman. “This is collective punishment disguised as law.”

Azerbaijan is a party to several international agreements, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

These treaties guarantee a range of fair trial rights: the right to legal defense, the right to know the charges, the right to an impartial court, and the presumption of innocence.

But Vardanyan’s treatment since his arrest suggests a deliberate effort to deny these rights. Independent legal observers have been kept out. Public statements by officials have already branded him guilty. And there is little evidence of true judicial independence in Baku.

According to Berman, this contradicts both international norms and Azerbaijan’s own Constitution, which states that international treaties must be respected—even over domestic laws if they are in conflict.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case is the attempt to portray Vardanyan’s humanitarian efforts as criminal actions. The defense notes that acts like rebuilding schools, protecting churches, and delivering food to families in need were all lawful activities under both Armenian and international law.

“To twist humanitarian aid into a crime is to turn justice on its head,” Berman said.

The trial of Ruben Vardanyan is not just about one individual—it’s about the erasure of Artsakh’s self-governance and dignity. This trial fits into a broader pattern: Azerbaijan’s campaign to criminalize and silence the entire leadership of Artsakh following its 2023 occupation of the country.

Dozens of former Artsakh leaders, soldiers, and civil servants have been arrested, many without clear charges. These detentions are part of a broader strategy to intimidate the displaced Armenian population and destroy any memory of self-rule in Artsakh.

Berman’s statement is not just a legal defense—it is a plea for the international community to wake up. He calls on Azerbaijan to honor its legal commitments and allow a fair trial to take place. If it fails to do so, he warns, “the legitimacy of the entire process collapses.”

International human rights groups, the Armenian government, and diasporan organizations are increasingly calling for Vardanyan’s immediate release. Some are pushing for sanctions or diplomatic pressure on Azerbaijan to stop the political persecution of Artsakh’s former leadership.

The case against Ruben Vardanyan is not just a legal proceeding—it is a dangerous precedent. This is not about justice; it is about erasing a people’s right to govern themselves and rewriting history through force.

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