BERLIN, Germany: A military court in Azerbaijan handed down a 20-year prison sentence to Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of the recaptured breakaway Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to state media on Tuesday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Vardanyan had faced charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes and terrorism.
Sentences of life in prison or 20 years were passed on other Armenians who served as political leaders in the enclave until its recapture in September 2023.
Arayik Harutyunyan, who served as the last president of the region, was among five sentenced to life in prison. They had also been charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and terrorism.
The trial of 16 politicians started at the beginning of the year. Vardanyan was tried separately.
Under international law, Nagorno-Karabakh is recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but from the 1990s, it operated as a self-governing breakaway state – known as the Republic of Artsakh – with backing from the Armenian army and support from Russia.
In September 2023, Azerbaijani troops deployed by President Ilham Aliyev regained control of the region.
More than 100,000 Armenians fled to Armenia. Many of their leaders were arrested and taken to Baku.
Armenia has accused its eastern neighbour of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. – BERNAMA-dpa
