Azerbaijani authorities called Ruben Vardanyan's 20-year sentence "restoration of justice"

Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev called the Baku Military Court's verdict against Ruben Vardanyan "restoration of justice and the end of a nearly 30-year conflict."

In his X-account, Hajiyev noted that Azerbaijan expected the creation of international tribunals similar to Nuremberg, but in the context of politicized international law, the country ensured justice through its own open courts. He also condemned calls by certain European politicians and Amnesty International for the release of those accused of war crimes, emphasizing that this undermines the principle of the inevitability of punishment and hinders sustainable peace and reconciliation.

"Acquitting someone accused of war crimes is tantamount to legitimizing their crimes and complicity in undermining the principle of the inevitability of punishment. Sustainable peace is impossible without justice," Hajiyev stated.

As a reminder, the former head of the Nagorno-Karabakh government, former Russian citizen, and billionaire Ruben Vardanyan was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was charged with a number of crimes, including mercenarism, financing terrorism, and attempting to seize power. While in pretrial detention, he went on a hunger strike.

Earlier, on February 5, the Baku Military Court issued verdicts in the cases of other former military-political leaders of Karabakh. According to the court's ruling, former President of Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan, Deputy Commander of the Defense Army David Manukyan, former Speaker of Parliament David Ishkhanyan, and former Foreign Minister David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment. In addition, other former presidents, Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, received 20-year prison terms.

Последние новости
Pashinyan Warns of the “Beginning of the End” for the EAEU
Politics
Pashinyan Warns of the “Beginning of the End” for the EAEU
29 July 2026

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned that Russia’s restrictions on Armenian exports are calling into question the future of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), saying the dispute could mark “the beginning of the end” for the Moscow-led bloc if it is not resolved soon.
Nauru becomes the third country to withdraw recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Politics
Nauru becomes the third country to withdraw recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
29 July 2026

The Pacific island nation of Nauru has severed diplomatic relations with the self-proclaimed entities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, effectively revoking its earlier recognition of their "independence." The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced the move.
Imam in Georgia Beaten After Speaking Turkish
Society
Imam in Georgia Beaten After Speaking Turkish
29 July 2026

An attack on the family of a Meskhetian Muslim in the southern Georgian town of Akhaltsikhe has raised questions about the police response. The victims say more than ten men assaulted the local mosque’s imam, Shevket Dvalidze, but only two suspects were detained and later released on bail. Human rights groups are calling for investigators to examine whether the attack was motivated by ethnic, linguistic and religious hatred.
Reporters Without Borders Calls Sentences Against Azerbaijani Journalists Politically Motivated
Human rights
Reporters Without Borders Calls Sentences Against Azerbaijani Journalists Politically Motivated
29 July 2026

The international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the sentences handed down to staff members of the Azerbaijani YouTube channel Toplum TV, describing them as further evidence of the persecution of independent journalists in the country.