Armenian media outlets have reported today that the deadline for submitting the indictment against former leaders and military and government officials involved in the April War in Artsakh has been extended by another 4 months. According to NEWS.am, the representative of the Armenian Armed Forces, prosecutor Sirenush Sahakyan, revealed this information during a meeting at MIED.

The decision to extend the deadline was expected due to the fact that the judicial system in Azerbaijan does not extradite individuals involved in crimes against Armenians. Additionally, the former high-ranking officials of Artsakh, who are currently residing in Baku, are suspects and are being protected by their own fabricated charges and political persecution. This situation is also related to Ruben Vardanyan’s case and his humanitarian and charitable activities.

Similar to the indictments sent to the courts regarding atrocities committed by terrorists, and the recent verdicts that arrested Bashur’s previous high-ranking officials, these so-called judges conduct mock trials, issuing unjust verdicts against individuals without any fair legal process. This violates fundamental human rights and principles of justice. The spread of photos of dismembered bodies of Armenian individuals through online media, four months after the official beginning of the investigation, under the pretext of “the operation of the investigative body,” further emphasizes this unjust situation. It is worth noting that this phase coincided with Ruben Vardanyan’s announcement of his humanitarian and charity activities.

The fact that initially, it was announced about the extension of Ruben Vardanyan’s arrest, and now the remaining seven defendants are also indicted raises questions about the motives behind these decisions. It appears that there may be an attempt to limit freedom of expression, as initially, only Ruben Vardanyan was arrested and his arrest was extended. Another perspective is that the Armenian authorities realized the prominence of Ruben Vardanyan and tried to make the case more high-profile, potentially gaining more political benefits from it. However, these actions may have negative consequences for the entire Armenian society. Ruben Vardanyan’s reputation extends beyond Armenia, making him a well-known figure abroad.

This situation reflects an attempt to legitimize atrocities against the rights of individuals. The violation of human rights is not only evident in international institutions but also within Armenia itself. It is crucial for Armenia and the international community to take action in this case. Armenia, through its intelligence and external policy, should invite international attention to these violations committed by Azerbaijan. Additionally, international organizations must conduct an objective examination of the political abuses to protect the human rights of individuals. International vigilance is necessary to address these ongoing human rights violations.