This verdict against Ruben Vardanyan is not the result of an independent and impartial judicial process, but the predictable consequence of a politically motivated trial that is completely incompatible with fair trial guarantees. This is stated in a statement by Ruben Vardanyan’s legal team.
This verdict against Ruben Vardanyan is not the result of an independent and impartial judicial process, but the predictable consequence of a politically motivated trial that is completely incompatible with fair trial guarantees. The statement reads, in part:
“On February 17 of this year, the Baku Military Court convicted Ruben Vardanyan, sentencing him to twenty years in prison. This verdict is not the result of an independent and impartial judicial process, but the predictable consequence of a politically motivated trial that is completely incompatible with fair trial guarantees.
” Representatives of his legal team claim that this sentence is legally unfounded.
From the very beginning, the trial was conducted in serious and systematic violations of both Azerbaijan’s domestic law and the country’s international obligations. The court failed to meet the requirements of independence and impartiality guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. The wording and content of the charges undermined the presumption of innocence.
The defense was denied the opportunity to properly review the case materials, as they were given extremely insufficient time to study them. Attempts to file motions and present exculpatory evidence were repeatedly blocked. Mr. Vardanyan was denied the opportunity to fully cooperate with the lawyer of his choice. These are not procedural violations, but a direct deprivation of Vardanyan’s fundamental right to an effective defense.
The principle of equality of arms was not applied. Mr. Vardanyan was not given a meaningful opportunity to challenge the charges against him in a competent, independent, and impartial court. Under these circumstances, the verdict cannot be impartial.
The nature of the charges further highlights the political nature of the prosecution. Mr. Vardanyan was prosecuted not for proven individual actions, but for his political activities and public service in the institutions of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh. Modern criminal law, both domestic and international, does not permit the criminalization of an individual, political affiliation, or association with state institutions without specific and proven criminal acts.
The cumulative effect of all these violations leads to an inescapable conclusion: Ruben Vardanyan was denied the right to a fair trial in all its aspects. His conviction reflects the pattern of policies pursued against ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and raises profound concerns about the rule of law. Therefore, this trial, like the recently concluded trial of fifteen other Armenians, is unlawful.
We call on international organizations, human rights mechanisms, and responsible governments to immediately take concrete steps to protect the rights of Mr. Vardanyan and other Armenians detained and unlawfully convicted in Baku and to secure their release. The normalization of politically motivated persecution threatens not only the interests of individuals but also the reputation of the international legal order.”
Siranush Sahakyan, Head of the Center for International and Comparative Law, representing Armenian prisoners at the ECHR
Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Managing Partner, Equity Law Partners
Taron Simoyan, Founding Partner, ELL PARTNERSHIP Law Firm