Azerbaijan accuses Ruben Vardanyan of "financing terrorism"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan has charged former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister, philanthropist and businessman Ruben Vardanyan with terrorism financing, Vesti.az reports, citing the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.

Vardanyan, who was arrested by Azerbaijan when leaving Nagorno-Karabakh alongside tens of thousands of Armenians, has also been charged with "participation in the creation and activities of armed formations or groups not provided for by law" and "organization of illegal arrival of a foreigner or stateless person in the Republic of Azerbaijan".

On September 19, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, which left hundreds of Armenians killed and thousands of others displaced. On September 20, the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to a ceasefire on Azerbaijan’s terms, including the dissolution of the Defense Army. So far, 66,500 displaced residents have already fled Nagorno-Karabakh and reached Armenia.