Ruben Vardanyan

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Ruben Vardanyan following his detention. Photo: State Security Service of Azerbaijan

Armenia

Ruben Vardanyan’s lawyers launch legal action in Azerbaijan

by Arshaluys Barseghyan

•2 min read

Lawyers for former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan have filed legal actions in Baku, alleging that Vardanyan had been tortured and that he was denied the right to a speedy trial. According to Reuters, the lawsuits were filed on Thursday. Azerbaijani officials have declined to comment on the case. Vardanyan’s lawyers told Reuters that they had filed three separate legal actions. The first related to the treatment Vardanyan received during his hunger strike in April, which

Armenia

Bank of Georgia to acquire Armenia’s Ameriabank for $304 million

by Arshaluys Barseghyan

•2 min read

Bank of Georgia has reached an agreement to acquire Ameriabank, one of the largest banks in Armenia, for $303.6 million. Bank of Georgia Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, announced its proposed acquisition of 90% of the Armenian bank on Monday. The agreement would allow the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to retain its 10% share in the bank. The acquisition still requires approval by regulators, including the Central Bank of Armenia. Founded in 1

Armenia

Former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan detained by Azerbaijan

by Ismi Aghayev

•2 min read

Azerbaijan has detained Nagorno-Karabakh’s former state minister, Ruben Vardanyan, as he attempted to cross the Lachin checkpoint into Armenia. Vardanyan, a Russian-Armenian businessperson and billionaire, was detained on Wednesday, as announced by Azerbaijan’s State Border Service. The announcement stated that Vardanyan had illegally entered Azerbaijan, and cited his work as Nagorno-Karabakh’s state minister as factors in his arrest. The Border Service stated that Vardanyan is currently i

The Nagorno-Karabakh parliament Photo: OC Media.

Arayik Harutyunyan

Militia entered Nagorno-Karabakh parliament to ‘back President Harutyunyan’

by Ani Avetisyan

•3 min read

A state-controlled volunteer militia last week entered the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament, reportedly to shore up support for President Arayik Harutyunyan. On Sunday, news emerged that men in military fatigues had entered the region’s parliament on 16 August. Opposition MPs said that the militia members had one question: ‘who’s demanding Harutyunyan’s resignation?’ Both opposition parties that hold seats in parliament have denied that they were seeking the president’s resignation. Marcel Petr

Gurgen Nersisyan. Photo: State Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan

Nagorno-Karabakh appoints former prosecutor as State Minister

by Ani Avetisyan

•2 min read

Nagorno-Karabakh’s former Prosecutor General has been appointed State Minister, following the dismissal of billionaire Russian-Armenian Ruben Vardanyan. Gurgen Nersisyan, who was appointed on Wednesday, had been working in the region’s prosecutor’s office for the past two decades, serving as Prosecutor General since February 2021. Nersisyan replaced Ruben Vardanyan, who proved controversial from before he was appointed. The Azerbaijani government openly criticised Vardanyan on multiple occas

An ICRC vehicle on the Lachin Corridor. Image via Apa.az.

Armenia

Stepanakert and Baku meet following Vardanyan’s dismissal

by Ani Avetisyan

•2 min read

Officials from Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan have met to discuss the Lachin Corridor’s closure and the region’s energy crisis a day after the dismissal of State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. The authorities in Stepanakert confirmed earlier media reports about the meeting on Saturday. According to Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh’s and Azerbaijan’s representatives discussed the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the disruptions to the region’s energy supplies. Baku has yet to confirm taking par

Ruben Vardanyan. Image via Aurora Prize.

Lachin Blockade

Ruben Vardanyan sacked as state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh

by Ani Avetisyan

•2 min read

Nagorno-Karabakh’s President Arayik Harutyunyan has dismissed Russian–Armenian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan as state minister. Announcing the decision during a televised cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Harutyunyan said that he and Vardanyan had ‘strategic’ differences in their approaches to internal and external issues. ‘I am grateful to Mr Vardanyan for the fact that he always tried to share responsibilities with me to the maximum extent in both a friendly and professional way’, Harutyunan sai