Nagorno-Karabakh’s former top minister arrested amid exodus of thousands from region
- 27 September, 21:33
Azerbaijan has arrested former leader of leader of Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region as he sought to flee to Armenia.
Ruben Vardanyan, former top minister in Nagorno-Karabakh was trying to cross to Armenia after the separatist region’s surrender days earlier after Azerbaijan disarmed Armenian militants in a lightning “anti-terror” operation.
The news of Vardanyan was announced by Azerbaijan’s State Border Service on Wednesday. The agency said that Vardanyan would be taken to “relevant state bodies” where his fate would be decided. Vardanyan, a Russian-based billionaire businessman moved to Karabakh in 2023 where he was appointed state minister before stepping down in February this year. Regardless, he remained an influential figure in the breakaway region and Azerbaijan had demanded his resignation as a condition in negotiations with the breakaway region.
Vardanyan’s arrest comes after Azerbaijan regained full control over the region after disarming local Armenian military groups in an operation that lasted less than 23 hours on September 19. Azerbaijan’s victory was followed by a meeting between Baku and Nagorno-Karabakh officials. Azerbaijan’s capture of Nagorno-Karabakh also prompted exodus of local Armenian population. According to Armenian officials, 47,000 out of the region’s 120,000 Armenians have already left Karabakh for Armenia. The exodus is driven by fear of Azerbaijan’s possible persecution despite Baku’s assurances that it will guarantee local Armenians’ rights and provide for their security. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier said that there was no threat for Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.
