Billionaire Vardanyan decided to renounce Russian citizenship and move to Karabakh

Businessman Ruben Vardanyan released a video message on his YouTube channel against the background of the escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Mr. Vardanyan announced his intention to renounce Russian citizenship and move to Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, he thanked Russia for his success in his professional activities, as well as for assistance in resolving the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“I made a decision, realizing the risks I take, to renounce Russian citizenship and move to Artsakh. This decision was not easy, but it was right,” said Ruben Vardanyan. His Russian assets, according to RBCwill go to the family fund. Forbes estimates his fortune at $1 billion. In 2021, Ruben Vardanyan took 116th place in the list of the richest people in Russia.

Commenting on the escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Ruben Vardanyan noted that the countries should go through “a gradual path of reducing the degree of hatred.” He also expressed gratitude to Russia for the presence of peacekeepers on the territory of the unrecognized republic and ensuring the safety of its inhabitants. In addition, Mr. Vardanyan called on the world community to pay attention to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. According to him, what is happening concerns everyone, since Nagorno-Karabakh is the “cradle of civilization.”

Ruben Vardanyan moved to Russia in 1985, enrolling in the Faculty of Economics of Moscow State University. Mr. Vardanyan is President of Vardanyan, Broitman & Partners, co-founder of the RVVZ Foundation and one of the founders of the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo. Ruben Vardanyan has repeatedly spoken out in support of Nagorno-Karabakh. In October 2020, he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to help resolve the conflict and take an active part in ensuring security on the territory of the unrecognized republic.

On November 10, 2020, Azerbaijan and Armenia, mediated by Russia, signed a trilateral agreement to end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the agreement, 1960 Russian peacekeepers were sent to the region, and the Armenian military had to completely leave the territory. In August, Azerbaijan carried out the “Retribution” operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, explaining this as an armed provocation from the Armenian side. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the situation in the region extremely difficult. At the end of August, Azerbaijani forces occupied the city of Lachin and several neighboring villages, blocking the Lachin corridor, which connected Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

Lusine Balasyan