Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry demanded that Vardanyan leave Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan is demanding that businessman Ruben Vardanyan, appointed to the post of state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), leave the republic. This was announced by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov at a press conference following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“His (Vardanyan – ed.) activities are of a criminal and adventurous nature. We believe that this should end. And the sooner this person leaves this region, the better it will be for everyone, first of all, the local population suffers from this, ”he said (cit. according to TASS). Bayramov added that Vardanyan is an “alien element” for the region.

In September, Vardanyan announced his decision to renounce his Russian citizenship and move to Nagorno-Karabakh. On the eve of December 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin satisfied his application for renunciation of citizenship.

Vardanyan argued his decision with a desire to support local residents who are “in a difficult psychological state.” The businessman also called for an increase in the period of stay of Russian peacekeepers in the region until the “security of the people of Artsakh” is ensured by the forces of the inhabitants of the republic themselves.

On October 4, the president of the unrecognized NKR, Arayik Harutyunyan, offered Vardanyan to head the government of the republic. Harutyunyan noted that he was ready to give Vardanyan broad powers “to make decisions and implement them.” He highly appreciated the work of the current state minister of the unrecognized republic, Artak Beglaryan, but, in his opinion, it is necessary to “consolidate national efforts.” November 4 he was appointed to the post of State Minister of the NKR.