Latvian lawmakers call for harsh sentence against Ruben Vardanyan amid Baku trial

Almost one-fifth of the Latvian Parliament, the Saeima, has issued a statement urging Azerbaijani authorities to consider not only local but also international factors when sentencing Ruben Vardanyan. 

The Armenian oligarch and former leader of the unrecognized separatist entity in Karabakh has been on trial in Baku since mid-January on charges of terrorism, organizing and financing illegal armed groups, war crimes, and forced deportation, Caliber.Az reports via CNN Prima News.

Latvian lawmakers have underscored the international scale of Vardanyan’s alleged crimes, describing him as a "sponsor of Putin" and a supporter of separatism. They called for a severe punishment, emphasizing that the verdict should serve as a warning to pro-Kremlin separatist movements across the post-Soviet space.

The statement also highlighted that "Vardanyan’s activities have attracted attention and condemnation from politicians in various countries, civil society organizations, and international media."

Vardanyan was detained by Azerbaijani intelligence services in the fall of 2023 while attempting to flee to Armenia from Karabakh.

He now faces the possibility of a life sentence. His trial has garnered international attention, with Ukrainian and Romanian officials also weighing in. In February, Romanian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Christina Terhes, from the European Conservatives and Reformists group, asserted that Vardanyan’s crimes extend beyond the South Caucasus.

Reports indicate that Vardanyan attempted to evade EU sanctions six years ago. In 2019, a group of European Parliament members advocated for sanctions against him due to his alleged ties to the Kremlin. Three years later, 46 members of the US Congress made a similar appeal.

Despite these efforts, Vardanyan now stands trial in Baku, where he awaits a final verdict that could have broader geopolitical implications.

By Khagan Isayev