Former Separatist Head Arrested by Azerbaijan as Humanitarian Crisis Escalates
GORIS, Armenia – Ruben Vardanyan, a former head of the breakaway ethnic Armenian government in Nagorno-Karabakh, was arrested by Azerbaijan on Wednesday as he attempted to flee into Armenia amidst the exodus of tens of thousands of people. The mass departure of ethnic Armenians comes after Azerbaijan regained control of the territory, resulting in a humanitarian crisis.
Vardanyan, who is a billionaire banker and philanthropist, served as the head of Karabakh’s separatist government from November 2022 to February 2023. His wife, Veronika Zonabend, confirmed his arrest on his Telegram channel, stating that he was apprehended while trying to escape along with the other ethnic Armenians fleeing the region. Azerbaijan’s border service transported him to the capital, Baku, where he was handed over to other state agencies.
Karabakh, although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, is predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians who broke away from Azerbaijan in the 1990s during the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse. Fearing reprisals from Azerbaijan, ethnic Armenians are abandoning their homes and fleeing in cars and trucks along the dangerous mountain road that connects Karabakh to Armenia. According to Karabakh authorities, 47,115 people have left the region, which has an estimated ethnic Armenian population of 120,000.
Concerned about the escalating humanitarian catastrophe, Western governments are urging Azerbaijan to allow international observers into Karabakh to monitor the treatment of the local population. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the need for transparency and the presence of international observers in the region.
Azerbaijan maintains that its intention is to peacefully reintegrate the ethnic Armenian residents of Karabakh and vehemently denies Armenian accusations of ethnic cleansing. President Ilham Aliyev declared that Armenians would have the freedom to vote, receive state education, and practice their Christian religion in Azerbaijan. He pledged to transform Karabakh into a “paradise.”
The grounds for Vardanyan’s arrest remain unclear, but Azerbaijan has indicated its intention to prosecute some individuals in the Karabakh leadership. President Aliyev stated last week that “elements of the criminal regime” would be brought to justice without specifying any names or crimes.
The journey out of Karabakh has been perilous, with the mountain road congested for days. Many people have resorted to sleeping in their cars or searching for firewood to keep warm. The 77-kilometer (48 miles) trip to the border is taking at least 30 hours. Vera Petrosyan, a 70-year-old retired teacher, voiced her uncertainty, stating, “I left everything behind. I don’t know what is in store for me. I have nothing. I don’t want anything.”
Additionally, authorities reported a devastating incident in Karabakh, where a fuel station explosion claimed the lives of at least 68 people, left 105 missing, and injured nearly 300 individuals. The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Russia’s peacekeeping force in the region conducted helicopter evacuations, rescuing over 120 people.
Armenia has expressed frustration with the Russian peacekeepers, who failed to prevent Azerbaijan from launching its offensive last week. The crisis has underscored Russia’s diminishing influence in the Caucasus region, where Turkey, Iran, and the United States are vying for control.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, tens of thousands of lives have been lost in the wars over Karabakh, involving both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The recent fighting further exacerbated the death toll, with Karabakh authorities reporting a loss of at least 200 people. Azerbaijan confirmed the deaths of 192 of its soldiers and published their names and photographs on the defense ministry’s website, with more than 50 being young men in their teens.
As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, the international community closely watches the developments, urging a resolution that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.