Azerbaijan’s Sham Trials: Aimed at Undermining Artsakh’s Right to Self-Determination

A Baku court resumed the politically charged trial of Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), on February 17. Vardanyan faced fabricated charges, including “financing terrorism” and “illegally entering” Artsakh, which he and experts strongly rejected. The trial, widely seen as a politically motivated sham, was separate from those of other detained Artsakh leaders, such as former presidents and military commanders. Luis Moreno Ocampo, former ICC chief prosecutor, condemned the charges as baseless, suggesting they were part of Azerbaijan’s effort to cover up its own crimes in the region.

Azerbaijani prosecutors escalated their accusations, including an alleged plot to assassinate Azerbaijani diplomats abroad. These trials followed Azerbaijan’s September 2023 attack on Artsakh, which displaced its entire Armenian population. Legal experts argued that the trials were not just personal vendettas but part of a broader strategy to delegitimize Artsakh’s right to self-determination.

In these closed-door trials, new charges emerged against Artsakh leaders, including allegations of “illegal deportation” of students and teachers and claims of war damages totaling $58 billion. Vardanyan’s trial continued with his defense team contesting the charges. Vardanyan dismissed his court-appointed attorney, opting for a private lawyer. However, experts raised concerns about the trial’s fairness, with Sahakyan suggesting that Azerbaijan’s legal system may punish those who challenge its narrative, including defense lawyers.

Experts asserted that these trials were less about justice and more about closing the door on Artsakh’s right to self-determination, falsely aiming to portray Armenia as the aggressor in the region.