Armenian-born Russian businessman, oligarch and politician (born 1968)
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] On 27 September 2023, Vardanian's wife Veronika Zonabend told Russian media outlet Kommersant that she had "lost contact" with him following the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh ; on the same day, he was detained by the Azerbaijani State Border Service in the Lachin corridor while attempting to cross into Goris , Armenia.[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] Vardanyan’s wife, along with prominent international figures, and human rights organizations, have called for his release, describing the charges as fabricated.[23] [24] [25] [26]
As of June 2024, he was still being held as a political prisoner awaiting trial.[27] [28] [29] [30] US senator Ed Markey stated that he and several others have been illegally detained in violation of international laws.[28]
In 2021, his net worth was estimated by Forbes at $1 billion.[31] [17]
^ Cite error: The named reference :4
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ "Former Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian leader arrested amid mass exodus" . POLITICO . 27 September 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023 .
^ Whatley, Mat (12 May 2023). "Lasting Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Will Reduce Russia's Influence" . Foreign Policy . Retrieved 2 October 2023 .
^ Ebel, Francesca (27 September 2023). "Exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh: 'I never imagined we would ever leave' " . The Washington Post .
^ Górecki, Wojciech (30 August 2023). "No special status, no Armenians? The prospects for Nagorno-Karabakh in a unitary Azerbaijan" .
^ "Ruben Vardanyan: Was will der Oligarch in Berg-Karabach? - Echo der Zeit - SRF" . Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 18 October 2023 .
^ "What to Expect From the Azerbaijani–Armenian Peace Process in 2023" . Jamestown . Retrieved 8 April 2024 .
^ "All Putin's Men: Secret Records Reveal Money Network Tied to Russian Leader - ICIJ" . 3 April 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2023 .
^ "Panama Papers: Secret records reveal money network tied to Vladimir Putin" . The Irish Times . Retrieved 18 October 2023 .
^ Cite error: The named reference :12
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ "Ruben Vardanyan appointed State Minister of Artsakh" . armenpress.am . Retrieved 4 November 2022 .
^ "Ruben Vardanyan dismissed from post of Artsakh State Minister" . news.am . Retrieved 23 February 2023 .
^ "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 .
^ "Ruben Vardanyan speaks on contradictions with Artsakh President: No one should cross the red lines" . news.am . Retrieved 27 February 2023 .
^ Cite error: The named reference :16
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ "Рубен Варданян" . Forbes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 13 July 2022 .
^ a b Service, RFE/RL's Russian. "De Facto Nagorno-Karabakh Leader Has Russian Citizenship Revoked" . RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty . Retrieved 8 April 2024 .
^ "Рубена Варданяна задержали перед въездом в Армению" . RBK Group (in Russian). 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023 .
^ "Dövlət Sərhəd Xidməti Mətbuat Mərkəzinin məlumatı" . State Border Service of Azerbaijan . Retrieved 27 September 2023 .
^ "Ruben Vardanyan arrested, held captive by Azerbaijan, says wife" . armenpress.am . Retrieved 27 September 2023 .
^ "Экс-госминистр НКР Варданян арестован по обвинению в финансировании терроризма" . Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023 .
^ "Προφυλακίσθηκε ο πρώην επικεφαλής της κυβέρνησης του Ναγκόρνο Καραμπάχ" . iefimerida.gr (in Greek). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023 .
^ "Statement on the Sentencing of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan in Azerbaijan" . Lemkin Institute .
^ "Azerbaijan holds Nagorno Karabakh leaders hostage" . Christian Solidarity International . 6 October 2023.
^ "Henrikh Mkhitrayan calls for release of Ruben Vardanyan and other Armenians detained by Azerbaijan" . Public Radio of Armenia . Retrieved 8 June 2024 .
^ "Ruben Vardanyan arrested by Azerbaijani authorities, his wife confirms" . Public Radio of Armenia . Retrieved 8 June 2024 .
^ "Protesters at COP 29 accuse Azerbaijan of greenwashing genocide as host of COP29, call for release of Armenian prisoners" . Public Radio of Armenia . Retrieved 8 June 2024 .
^ a b "Azerbaijan (Executive Session); Congressional Record Vol. 170, No. 98" . Congress.gov . 11 June 2024.
^ "Ruben Vardanyan Was Tortured in Baku Prison, Legal Team Says" . Asbarez.com . 14 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024 .
^ "Prompted by International Pressure, Ruben Vardanyan Finally Allowed Phone Call With Family, Reveals He Is In Complete Isolation & His Health Is Deteriorating" . ZARTONK . 20 April 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024 .
^ " "Жизнь разделилась на до и после войны": Рубен Варданян о переезде в Арцах" . Forbes.ru (in Russian). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2023 .