Ruben Vardanyan sentenced to 20 years in prison

(Horizon Weekly) – A court in Baku has sentenced former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison, concluding that the state orchestrated a show trial.

Vardanyan, who has never held a military post, was convicted on a series of sweeping charges, including allegedly waging war against Azerbaijan, financing terrorism, and facilitating forced displacement. Throughout the proceedings, he reportedly instructed his legal counsel not to mount a substantive defence, characterizing the process as a “farce” rather than a legitimate judicial hearing.

The trial, which stretched for nearly a year, was conducted without the presence of independent observers, international human rights monitors, or free media, raising serious concerns about its fairness and credibility.

Vardanyan’s sentencing follows earlier verdicts against other former Artsakh political and military figures, who have received prison terms ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment in the same case.

In recent remarks, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signalled that their release is not under consideration.