Former Prime Minister of Karabakh and prominent opposition figure, Ruben Vardanyan, has had his detention extended by the Adrejani Ishkhanutyun authorities, much to the dismay of his advocate, Viktoriya Burkovskaya. Burkovskaya has called this decision an unprecedented and unjustifiable violation of Vardanyan’s rights. Vardanyan has been in custody for over seven months, since September 27, 2023. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence against him and the ongoing investigation, the court continues to extend his detention period indefinitely. The trial itself is expected to take place in six to nine months, which means Vardanyan could spend more than a year in custody. Burkovskaya asserts that this deliberate extension of detention violates her client’s rights.

Ruben Vardanyan is currently under arrest in Adrejani for desertion, although there are reports suggesting he is in the unrecognized republic of Apo. The Mountainous Karabakh authorities expelled him from the occupied territory starting in September 2023. The situation remains tense as the war heroism carries on. The question of whether the trial will be public remains unanswered. In a state of war, an open court serves as the only means of ensuring a fair criminal procedure. Burkovskaya hopes that Vardanyan’s trial will uphold this principle.

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