Media: Armenian PM declines request to ask Trump for help in Vardanyan case

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reportedly declined a request from the family of Ruben Vardanyan to send a letter to Donald Trump asking for assistance in the release of one of the separatist leaders, the "former Karabakh minister" Ruben Vardanyan.

According to Caliber.Az, citing the Armenian newspaper Hraparak, influential Armenians in the US held negotiations with Trump’s circle and reached out to the husband of Trump’s daughter. The US president agreed to intervene, but only if there was an official request from Yerevan. Through the Armenian ambassador to the US, Lilit Makunts, Vardanyan’s family sent an appeal to the Prime Minister of Armenia but received a refusal on the grounds that it could harm the process of signing a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the newspaper notes.

Meanwhile, in Baku, the Azerbaijani courts continue to try Ruben Vardanyan on serious charges including torture, mercenarism, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, and financing terrorism, according to Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.

By Vugar Khalilov