The wife of the former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan told RBC that her husband was detained at a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor.
“This morning, my husband, Ruben Vardanyan, philanthropist, businessman and former Minister of State of the Republic of Artsakh, was arrested and captured by the Azerbaijani authorities at the border while trying to leave Artsakh along with thousands of others Armenians,” she said.
Information about Vardanyan’s detention by the Azerbaijani military was also confirmed by TV presenter Tina Kandelaki. Later, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan also reported the arrest. Vardanyan was taken to Baku “to make a decision.”
Photo: State Border Service of Azerbaijan
Ruben Vardanyan served as State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh from November 2022 to February 23, 2023. Last September, he renounced Russian citizenship and moved to the unrecognized republic.
Vardanyan is the former head of the investment company Troika Dialog; since 2011, he has been on the list of the richest people in Russia according to Forbes. According to the magazine, in 2021 the businessman’s fortune was $1 billion.
A week ago, on September 19, the Azerbaijani army began shelling Nagorno-Karabakh, calling it “anti-terrorist measures of a local nature.” The shelling stopped on September 20, when the Nagorno-Karabakh army agreed to lay down its arms. After this, the Armenian population began to leave the region.
Updated at 13:50. Added confirmation of Vardanyan’s detention from the State Border Service of Azerbaijan.