Vardanyan drops lawyer, slams trial as a sham

Ruben Vardanyan, the former State Minister of Artsakh currently held in detention in Azerbaijan on what he describes as fabricated charges, has announced through his family that he has rejected the services of his lawyer, Abraham Berman. He argues that blatant violations of international law and Azerbaijan’s own procedural code have turned the court proceedings into a “transparent farce”.

He emphasized he no longer needs the illusion of legal defense and now demands the actual enforcement of his procedural rights.

“During the October 21 court hearing, I announced my decision to withdraw from the services of my defense attorney Abraham Berman. This was a forced decision. The gross violations of international legal norms and Azerbaijan’s own procedural code have made these hearings a blatant farce. Under these circumstances, all opportunities for defense have been exhausted.

I was never allowed to review the case files or the indictment. To this day, access to the materials is denied: I have not been allowed to review the 422 volumes of my case. The court has failed to provide official translations of key legal documents.

I have been denied the opportunity to defend myself in court. I could not exchange documents with my lawyer without restrictions or pre-screening in preparation for court sessions. I was denied access to audio and video recordings presented as evidence against me.

All of my motions have been ignored by both the investigative bodies and the court. Crucial requests from the defense, which are essential to a fair trial, have gone unanswered.

Another reason I dismissed my lawyer was the court’s refusal to summon witnesses who could clarify the facts of the case or support the defense’s position. The court denied this motion, stripping the process of any semblance of objectivity or fairness.

Over time, the situation only worsened. In this absurd theater, the role of the defense lawyer—regardless of their intent or efforts—is limited to merely legitimizing this process on paper. I refuse to participate in this farce. I don’t need the illusion of defense; I demand real enforcement of my procedural rights.”

In a statement issued on January 16, Ruben Vardanyan had previously noted that since his arrest, he has provided no testimony beyond stating his name. He emphasized that all documents bearing his signature were falsified and confirmed that he, his lawyer, and interpreter had been subjected to pressure.