Azerbaijan has detained Ruben Vardanyan, a former leader of Nagorno-Karabakh, as he attempted to exit the enclave for Armenia, according to officials. Vardanyan, who led the separatist government from November 2022 to February, was among thousands trying to depart. To date, 47,115 ethnic Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh following its capture by Azerbaijan last week.
Vardanyan’s wife, Veronika Zonabend, has called for support to secure his safe release, stating, “Ruben has stood with the Arsakh people during the 10-month blockade and has suffered with them in their struggle for survival.” Azerbaijan’s border service reported that Vardanyan has been transported to the capital, Baku, and handed over to other state agencies.
As ethnic Armenians crossed the border on Tuesday, they underwent stringent checks by Azerbaijani border control. Azerbaijani authorities are reportedly searching for “war crimes” suspects, with a government source indicating the country’s intention to grant “amnesty to Armenian fighters who laid down their arms in Karabakh,” while demanding the handover of those who committed war crimes.
Nagorno-Karabakh, recognized as part of Azerbaijan, had been under the control of ethnic Armenians for three decades. Tensions escalated when Azerbaijan initiated an effective blockade of a crucial route into the enclave in December 2022. A ceasefire on 20 September halted 24 hours of conflict, leading to discussions between Azerbaijan and the Karabakh authorities regarding the enclave’s integration into Azerbaijan.
However, many of the region’s 120,000 ethnic Armenians fear they face an uncertain future in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenia’s prime minister accusing Azerbaijan of initiating “ethnic cleansing” in the region. Both sides have reported casualties, with at least 200 people dead according to Karabakh authorities, and Azerbaijan confirming the death of 192 soldiers.
The exodus from Karabakh to Armenia has resulted in traffic jams, with families seen overloaded with belongings. Western governments, including Germany and the US, have urged Azerbaijan to allow international observers into Karabakh to oversee the treatment of the local population and ensure the protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian access. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called on both parties to uphold human rights.
