A former Russian tycoon who once led separatist region launches a hunger strike in Azerbaijan jail
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.
Related articles
Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ask almost any hardcore motorsports fan who the best driver in the world is righ2024-05-21Indonesia's Mount Ruang erupts and shuts an airport as residents leave homes
MANADO, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities closed an airport and residents left homes near an e2024-05-21Pakistan says Iran's President Raisi will visit next week despite tensions in the Middle East
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Pakistan as scheduled next week despite i2024-05-21US tourists trapped in Dubai traumatized by floods swamping the desert playground
American tourists are stuck in Dubai after the desert nation was hit with 'historic' floods that dre2024-05-21US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease2024-05-21911 emergency lines go DOWN across multiple states including South Dakota and Nebraska
Police forces across several states, from Nebraska to Nevada, reported their 911 phone lines are dow2024-05-21
atest comment