Ruben Vardanyan, Ex-Head of Nagorno-Karabakh, Launches Hunger Strike in Azerbaijan Jail

Ruben Vardanyan, a former Russian tycoon and ex-head of Nagorno-Karabakh's separatist government, has launched a hunger strike in an Azerbaijani jail after being arrested on charges of financing terrorism and establishing armed groups. Vardanyan's family announced that he started the hunger strike on April 5, 2024, demanding his immediate and unconditional release, as well as the release of other detained separatists.

Vardanyan, who cofounded Troika Dialog, once among Russia's top investment banks, and amassed a fortune estimated at $1 billion, renounced his Russian citizenship in 2022 and moved to the Karabakh region. He became the region's state minister but was dismissed in 2023 as Azerbaijan regained control of large parts of Karabakh in a 2020 war. In September 2023, Vardanyan was arrested while trying to cross into Armenia and charged with financing terrorism and establishing armed groups.

Since starting the hunger strike, Vardanyan has stopped making phone calls to his family, which they claim is a violation of international norms. His family has cited his demand for a speedy trial as the reason for the former, led, region. The original trial scheduled for January was extended to May without cause.

Why this matters: Vardanyan's case highlights the ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. The arrest of a prominent former official and his subsequent hunger strike draw international attention to the plight of Armenian prisoners held, strike following the 2020 war.

Vardanyan's family and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative are demanding his immediate release, as well as the release of all illegally detained ethnic Armenian prisoners. They want the Azerbaijani government to allow international observers and media to attend the trials, which must meet global legal standards, and to restore the family's access to telephone calls with Vardanyan. The family is calling for any peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to include the release of all former, strike, says.

Key Takeaways

• Ruben Vardanyan, ex-Nagorno-Karabakh official, on hunger strike in Azerbaijani jail.
• Vardanyan charged with financing terrorism and establishing armed groups.
• Vardanyan's family demands his immediate release and access to phone calls.
• Case highlights ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Family calls for any peace deal to include release of all illegally detained Armenians.