Former Armenian Karabakh Official Arrested by Azerbaijan

Ruben Vardanyan, the former “state minister” of the self-proclaimed Armenian regime in Karabakh, has been arrested by the Azerbaijani State Security Service. He was apprehended while attempting to cross the Lachin border checkpoint. Vardanyan faces charges related to illegal border crossing, terrorism financing, establishing armed groups, and supplying weapons to illegal Armenian forces in Karabakh. He renounced his Russian citizenship in September 2022 and had served in the Karabakh administration before being dismissed. Vardanyan had a history of alleged involvement in criminal activities like money laundering and illegal arms and drug trade. His provocative statements against Azerbaijan on social media had garnered attention. The investigation into his case is ongoing.