TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A former Russian tycoon jailed in Azerbaijan on charges stemming from his time as a top separatist figure in the Karabakh region has gone on a hunger strike, his family said Friday.
Ruben Vardanyan started the fast two weeks ago to press demands for a speedy trial, news agencies cited the family as saying.
Vardanyan cofounded Troika Dialog, once among Russia’s top investment banks, and amassed wealth estimated at reaching $1 billion.
In 2022, he renounced his Russian citizenship and moved to the Karabakh region, parts of which were run by ethnic Armenians who sought to split away from Azerbaijan.
He became the region’s state minister, the equivalent of premier, but was dismissed in 2023. Azerbaijan, which had regained control of large parts of Karabakh in a 2020 war had been calling for him to be ousted.
Azerbaijan took full control of the rest of Karabakh in a lightning offensive in September 2023 that drove almost all of the region’s 120,000 Armenians to flee.
Vardanyan was arrested while trying to cross into Armenia and was charged with financing terrorism and establishing armed groups.
Tennis umpire banned for life for manipulating scores and gambling
Remote Daliang Mountain in SW China Sees Departure of First Bullet Train
Railway Workers Prepare for Spring Festival Travel Rush
Remote Daliang Mountain in SW China Sees Departure of First Bullet Train
Caitlin Clark 'is set to sign eight
Passenger Trips to Exceed 1 Bln During 2022 Spring Festival Travel Rush
China Beat S. Korea in AFC Women's Asian Cup Final
People Celebrate Tibetan New Year in China's Tibet
NWSL champion Gotham FC sign German goalkeeper Ann
China Focus: China Steps up COVID
California court to weigh in on fight over transgender ballot measure proposal language
Beijing 2022 Mascots: Made in China, Made of 'China'