Ruben Vardanyan

Former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh (2022-2023)

Appears in 1 story

Born: May 25, 1968, Yerevan

Education: Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Previous offices: State Minister of Artsakh

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

Stories

Azerbaijan sentences former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Awaiting sentencing; prosecutors seek life imprisonment

For 35 years, ethnic Armenians governed themselves in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous enclave inside Azerbaijan's internationally recognized borders. On February 5, 2026, an Azerbaijani military court sentenced 13 former leaders of that self-declared republic—including three ex-presidents—to prison terms ranging from 15 years to life. The charges: war crimes, terrorism, genocide, and crimes against humanity spanning three decades of conflict.

Updated May 27