Ruben Vardanyan (politician)

For other people bearing this surname, see Vardanyan. For the wrestler, see Ruben Vardanyan (wrestler).

Ruben Vardanyan
Ռուբեն Վարդանյան
Vardanyan in 2022
4th State Minister of Artsakh
In office
4 November 2022 – 23 February 2023
PresidentArayik Harutyunyan
Preceded byArtak Beglaryan
Succeeded byGurgen Nersisyan
Personal details
Born (1968-05-25) 25 May 1968 (age 56)
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityArmenian, formerly Artsakhi
SpouseVeronika Zonabend
Children4
Alma materMoscow State University

Ruben Karleni Vardanyan (Armenian: Ռուբեն Կառլենի Վարդանյան, Russian: Рубен Карленович Варданян; born 25 May 1968) is a Russian-Armenian oligarch,[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] former adviser to Vladimir Putin,[8][9][10] and a politician who served as the State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), an unrecognized state in the South Caucasus, from 4 November 2022 until 23 February 2023.[11][12][13] Vardanyan continued his support and work in Artsakh following his dismissal from the post of State Minister in 2023.[14] Vardanyan has engaged in efforts to promote economic and social advancement in Armenia and Republic of Artsakh, focusing on long-term development projects.

Prior to his political career, Vardanyan was a businessman and philanthropist.[15] He is the former chief executive officer and shareholder of the Troika Dialog investment bank, which was the hearth of the Troika Laundromat.[16][17] In 2021, his net worth was estimated by Forbes at $1 billion.[18][17]

In September 2023, following the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and subsequent flight of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, Vardanyan was detained by Azerbaijani authorities in the Lachin corridor.[19] A number of internationally renowned public figures and organizations have called for the release of Vardanyan along with other former de facto Nagorno-Karabakh officials, considering his detention to be politically motivated or in violation of international laws.[20][21]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Former Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian leader arrested amid mass exodus". POLITICO. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  3. ^ Whatley, Mat (12 May 2023). "Lasting Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Will Reduce Russia's Influence". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  4. ^ Ebel, Francesca (27 September 2023). "Exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh: 'I never imagined we would ever leave'". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ Górecki, Wojciech (30 August 2023). "No special status, no Armenians? The prospects for Nagorno-Karabakh in a unitary Azerbaijan".
  6. ^ "Ruben Vardanyan: Was will der Oligarch in Berg-Karabach? - Echo der Zeit - SRF". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ "What to Expect From the Azerbaijani–Armenian Peace Process in 2023". Jamestown. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ "All Putin's Men: Secret Records Reveal Money Network Tied to Russian Leader - ICIJ". 3 April 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Panama Papers: Secret records reveal money network tied to Vladimir Putin". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Ruben Vardanyan appointed State Minister of Artsakh". armenpress.am. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Ruben Vardanyan dismissed from post of Artsakh State Minister". news.am. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Official website of the President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic". president.nkr.am. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Ruben Vardanyan speaks on contradictions with Artsakh President: No one should cross the red lines". news.am. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Рубен Варданян". Forbes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b Service, RFE/RL's Russian. "De Facto Nagorno-Karabakh Leader Has Russian Citizenship Revoked". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  18. ^ ""Жизнь разделилась на до и после войны": Рубен Варданян о переезде в Арцах". Forbes.ru (in Russian). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  19. ^ Ahmedbeyli, Samira (28 September 2023). "Azerbaijani court arrested Ruben Vardanyan". English Jamnews. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  20. ^ "'Modern-day saviors' protest arrest of Armenian leader". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Statement on the Sentencing of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan in Azerbaijan". Lemkin Institute.