Forbes considers pro-Russian puppet as obstacle for Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

The world's leading media have already had an epiphany, recognizing the justice of what has long been talked about in Azerbaijan.

More narrowly, Forbes magazine called Armenian-Russian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan "a leader in blocking strong peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan". The article states that "Vardanyan said in his Russian-language Telegram channel on May 28 that the separatists should not sign any agreements with Azerbaijan".

In addition, Vardanyan is known to have written lies and nonsense on his Twitter page "about human rights problems", implying Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, and is particularly vocal about the so-called "blockade" of the road connecting the region to Armenia. The Azerbaijani media has repeatedly proved the primitiveness of this lie by Vardanyan. Now, as we can see, Forbes magazine is doing the same.

The world-renowned journalist writes that Vardanyan, who was "exported" to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from Moscow and used to be the separatists' "state minister", is likely to have left his "post" to avoid the risk of individual sanctions. "He is also now subject to immediate detention and handover to law enforcement authorities in Ukraine or NATO countries," the author added.

The reference to Ukraine is not coincidental. Indeed, quite recently, Vardanyan, who takes an active pro-Russian position, was included in the “Peacemaker” sanctions database. The "reward" has found its "hero". "The Peacemaker Centre asks law enforcement authorities to consider this publication on the website as a statement that this citizen has committed deliberate acts against the national security of Ukraine, peace, security of humanity and international law and order, as well as other offences," reads a statement on the Centre's website.

Here it should be recalled that the Ukrainian government imposed sanctions on Vardanyan back in October 2022. Furthermore, the world speaks more and more loudly on the subject. In particular, the fact that he is an accomplice to the aggression against Ukraine was stated back in January by the British Conservative MP Bob Blackman.

"We must understand that this is a man against whom sanctions have been imposed in connection with Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. His companies have been successfully used and have been involved in the process of expanding the military presence in Ukraine and Karabakh," the British politician said.

In addition, as the Ukrainian media specifically highlights, Vardanyan is the Kremlin's mouthpiece in Karabakh. It is he who has a direct relation to the constant fomenting of the conflict on the territory of Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

Ukrainians remind that recently Vardanyan called on the Armenians in Karabakh to take up arms: “We will fight to the end. The last limit has been passed: you either stand up for the defense of Karabakh, or against the entire Armenian people.” Rubik's announcement came amid efforts by the EU and the US to secure a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"The peacekeepers [the Russian military contingent temporarily stationed in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan] are a force that supports Karabakh. There is a lot of work to be done from our side to keep them here longer and in larger numbers," he stated.

This is something that everyone in Ukraine recalls. They are fully aware of the support for separatist from various Moscow envoys. They know and draw conclusions.

The same conclusions are drawn all over the world. Vardanyan can go on acting on his own initiative and caring only about the interests of the Armenian population of the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, but the world sees him as a person not respectable, a pro-Russian puppet, an open provocateur.

Here we can recall the tough and principled position of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who initially refused to consider Vardanyan as someone worthy of attention! Official Baku immediately stated that it would decide by itself with whom of the Armenian population of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh economic region it would conduct a dialogue. We defended our position. What Vardanyan himself, his Moscow handlers or the representatives of global Armenians have to say about all this is now completely unimportant.