Azerbaijani MFA: UN confirms Ruben Vardanyan’s detention based on serious crimes

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has issued a statement welcoming the Opinion (A/HRC/WGAD/2024/46) of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, published on March 13, 2025.

The statement emphasizes that the Working Group has rejected Armenia’s claims regarding the case of Ruben Vardanyan, per Caliber.Az.

"In its Opinion, the Working Group explicitly rejected the Armenian side’s claims that Ruben Vardanyan was arrested for his freedom of expression and political activities. The aforementioned Opinion especially emphasizes that Ruben Vardanyan is accused by the Republic of Azerbaijan of committing crimes such as the death of numerous individuals, large-scale property destruction, financing of terrorism, the establishment of illegal armed groups, and other crimes, and was detained on the basis of these charges," the statement reads.

The Foreign Ministry further highlighted that Armenian claims suggesting Vardanyan’s arrest was linked to his advocacy for rights and public statements were deemed baseless by the Working Group. "The Opinion of the Working Group states that freedoms of expression and association are not absolute rights and can be subject to restrictions, for reasons relating, in particular, to national security and public order. According to the Opinion, the charges against R. Vardanyan allow to conclude that indeed his actions posed a threat to national security."

Additionally, the statement addressed allegations from the Armenian side that Vardanyan’s "presumption of innocence" had been violated during the legal proceedings. It noted that the Working Group found his arrest to be based on reasonable suspicions. "Thus, despite the Armenian side’s claims that Ruben Vardanyan has been allegedly deprived of his right to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence and other fair trial rights, the Working Group concluded that these claims were unfounded and confirmed that Azerbaijan ensured legal procedures in accordance with international standards."

Concluding its statement, the ministry underscored that the Working Group’s findings once again refute the allegations made against Azerbaijan regarding Vardanyan’s detention and trial. "Overall, despite the Armenian side’s claims before the Working Group that Ruben Vardanyan was arbitrarily detained, the Working Group’s Opinion against these allegations has once again proven that the smear campaign against Azerbaijan regarding his arrest and the judicial process is entirely baseless, and thus Armenian side’s attempt to manipulate international law norms has once again failed."

By Tamilla Hasanova