Lawyers Condemn New False Charges Against Armenian Humanitarian and Political Prisoner

Lawyers Condemn New False Charges Against Ruben Vardanyan

In a dramatic escalation of state repression, Azerbaijani prosecutors have unveiled approximately 45 new potential charges against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian humanitarian and political prisoner. His legal team warns that a conviction could lead to a life sentence. This announcement follows widespread criticism regarding Azerbaijan's human rights violations during the recent COP29 climate summit, highlighting the repressive nature of President Ilham Aliyev's regime.

Vardanyan, a prominent figure who served as the State Minister of Artsakh for three months, has been charged under 20 different articles of Azerbaijan's criminal code. Reportedly, the government has amassed over 25,000 pages of alleged evidence, which is presented in Azerbaijani without translation, leaving Vardanyan and his lawyers severely limited in their ability to prepare an adequate defense.

The regime's claims are shrouded in secrecy, with officials asserting that the charges pertain to national security. This lack of transparency reveals a desperate move by the government to legitimize its ethnic cleansing efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh and justify the illegal detention of its former leaders. Vardanyan's counsel, Jared Genser, remarked, "These accusations are a gross violation of Azerbaijan's international obligations. The extensive charges clearly aim to hold Ruben accountable for actions taken by the Azerbaijani regime in Nagorno-Karabakh."

The implications of this crackdown extend beyond individual cases. Vardanyan's family and advocates warn that these allegations signal a broader campaign to silence dissent and suppress political opposition in Azerbaijan. David Vardanyan, Ruben's son, expressed his concerns, stating, "The recent charges against my father are a judicial farce and a form of retaliation against an innocent scapegoat for the failures of COP29. His detention epitomizes the plight of Armenians worldwide, highlighting that no one is safe under these circumstances."

The international community's response remains critical, as human rights organizations and various governments are called upon to intervene. Observers emphasize that Azerbaijan has earned a dismal freedom rating, with organizations like Freedom House placing its score at seven out of a hundred, placing it among the least free nations globally.

This troubling development follows the Azerbaijani government's military incursion into the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, which forced approximately 120,000 Armenian civilians to flee the region. Amid the refugee crisis, Vardanyan and several other officials were arrested on dubious, politically motivated charges that many deem a part of the systematic oppression perpetrated by the Aliyev regime.

Vardanyan’s situation symbolizes the ongoing repression within Azerbaijan and serves as a stark reminder of the dire state of political freedom in the country. Current indications suggest that the trial will not adhere to international legal standards, raising concerns of due process violations every step of the way.

Continued international scrutiny and engagement are crucial to ensuring that such egregious human rights abuses do not go unnoticed or unchallenged. Advocates plead for greater visibility for Vardanyan's case and similar instances, calling on global leaders to support the call for justice and transparency in Azerbaijani courts.

As Vardanyan enters another year of illegal incarceration under harsh conditions, the urgency for democratic nations to act against these blatant human rights violations intensifies. His family remains hopeful yet fearful, anxiously awaiting meaningful action from the global community to protect their dignity and right to influence change in a repressive environment.