A group of deputies of the Verkhovna Rada notes that Ruben Vardanyan, who is currently on trial in Azerbaijan, also committed illegal actions against Ukraine, Report informs with reference to Ukrainian media.
The media outlets note that Ukraine – including parliamentarians, the president, and special services – had repeatedly raised questions about Vardanyan.
“In 2022, by decree of Zelenskyy [President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy], Vardanyan was added to Ukraine’s sanctions lists. In 2023, the SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] added him to the ‘Myrotvorets’ database, characterizing him as an ‘accomplice of Russian-fascist invaders and terrorists.’ In 2024, 18 Ukrainian MPs signed a collective letter demanding Vardanyan’s removal from Nobel Peace Prize nominees,” the publications emphasize.
It is noted that the start of court proceedings against Vardanyan in Azerbaijan drew attention from Verkhovna Rada members, who made statements on social media about the international nature of his criminal activities.
Mykola Halushko, an MP from the Servant of the People party, wrote on Facebook that Ruben Vardanyan is twice an enemy of Ukraine and “Putin’s Russian puppet and wallet.”
Yuriy Kamelchuk, Halushko’s party colleague, states in videos on his personal accounts: “This character (Vardanyan) is completely discredited. If he weren’t in custody in Azerbaijan, he should be delivered to Ukraine or Lithuania, for example. By the way, the ‘Myrotvorets’ website states: ‘subject to immediate detention and transfer to law enforcement agencies of Ukraine or NATO countries.'”
Kamelchuk was supported by Oleksandr Fediyenko, who stated that Vardanyan is “a figure known for his closeness to Putin, who became a symbol of financial support for Russian aggression. Since 2019, his name has appeared in investigations and sanctions lists of the USA, EU, and Ukraine.”
Ruben Vardanyan is charged with acts under articles 100 (planning, preparing, initiating or waging aggressive war), 107 (deportation or forced resettlement of population), 109 (persecution), 112 (deprivation of liberty in violation of international law), 113 (torture), 114 (mercenary activities), 115 (violation of laws and customs of war), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing terrorism) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
