Yerevan applies to ECHR with request to protect Ruben Vardanyan`s  rights

ArmInfo.Armenia has filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding  the application of temporary measures against Azerbaijan in order to  protect the rights of Ruben Vardanyan, the former Minister of State  of Artsakh, public and political figure.  Yeghishe Kirakosyan,  Armenia's Representative on International Legal Matters,  told  reporters on September 28.

According to him, the application was sent yesterday. The document  contains a demand for guarantees of respect for Vardanyan's rights in  accordance with the International Convention on Human Rights. The  priority issues are related to the prohibition of torture and the  right to life of the arrested person. 

Kirakosyan expressed hope for a quick response from the ECHR. "We are  in constant contact with the Court and Vardanyan's relatives,"  Kirakosyan said, without ruling out the possibility of appealing to  other courts, in particular, the UN International Court of Justice.

Yeghishe Kirakosyan pointed to a "black list" presented in the media,  compiled by the Azerbaijani authorities, which involves the  application of legal measures against a number of former and current  officials of Nagorno-Karabakh. He noted that Yerevan will be  consistent in this direction. "I must state with regret that it is  unlikely that it will be possible to prevent possible detentions, but  with the use of certain legal mechanisms, Yerevan will try to solve  this problem," Kirakosyan said.

The Azerbaijani court made a decision to detain the former Minister  of State of Nagorno Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan for four months. He  faces 14 years in prison. Earlier, the border service of Azerbaijan  announced that Vardanyan is accused of "financing terrorism".   Vardanyan was detained on September 27, while trying to leave  Armenia. He moved to Nagorno Karabakh on September 1, 2022, becoming  a state minister on November 4, 2022, and was dismissed on February  23, 2023.