India
Vardanyan’s arrest was confirmed by his wife, Veronika Zonabend, through his Telegram channel. According to her statement, he was apprehended while trying to flee the region along with thousands of ethnic Armenians following Azerbaijan’s recent takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan’s border service has reported that Vardanyan has been transported to the capital city, Baku, and handed over to other state agencies.
Nagorno-Karabakh, though internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has a predominantly ethnic Armenian population that had seceded from Azerbaijan in the 1990s, resulting in two wars between the two sides. Fearing reprisals due to the history of conflict, ethnic Armenians have been leaving their homes en masse, embarking on arduous journeys along mountain roads to seek refuge in Armenia. Karabakh authorities estimate that 47,115 people have departed so far, out of an estimated ethnic Armenian population of 120,000.
Concerned about the escalating humanitarian crisis, Western governments have called for Azerbaijan to allow international observers into Nagorno-Karabakh to oversee the treatment of the local population. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the need for transparency and international presence on the ground to ensure the well-being of Nagorno-Karabakh’s inhabitants.
Azerbaijan has stated its intention to peacefully reintegrate the ethnic Armenian residents of Karabakh and has firmly denied Armenian accusations of ethnic cleansing. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pledged that Armenians would be granted rights such as voting, state education, and the practice of their Christian religion in Azerbaijan. He described the region’s future as a “paradise.”
The grounds for Vardanyan’s detention have not been specified, but Azerbaijan has signalled its intent to prosecute certain figures from the Karabakh leadership. President Aliyev previously asserted that “elements of the criminal regime” would be held accountable.
Veronika Zonabend has called for prayers and support for her husband’s safe release.
The ongoing exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh has resulted in a significant bottleneck on the mountain road leading to Armenia. Many individuals and families have been forced to sleep in their vehicles or search for firewood to stay warm during the lengthy journey. Despite the short distance of just 77 kilometres (48 miles) to the border, the trip is taking at least 30 hours due to the heavy congestion.
In a tragic incident, a massive explosion at a fuel station in Karabakh on Monday claimed the lives of at least 68 people, with 105 individuals reported missing and nearly 300 others injured. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Russia has evacuated over 120 people from the region via helicopter, though Armenia has expressed frustration that Russian peacekeepers, present since the 2020 war, did not prevent Azerbaijan’s recent offensive. The crisis has underscored Russia’s limited capacity to serve as a security guarantor in the Caucasus region, with Turkey, Iran, and the United States competing for influence, especially given Russia’s focus on the war in Ukraine.
The ongoing conflicts over Karabakh since the dissolution of the Soviet Union have resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, with the toll rising during last week’s fighting, during which Karabakh authorities reported at least 200 fatalities. Azerbaijan has reported 192 soldiers killed, with their names and photographs published on the defence ministry website, including more than 50 young men in their teens.
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