Aliyev Expresses Discontent to Putin Over Ruben Vardanyan

The Azerbaijani side is outraged by the fact that Ruben Vardanyan is present in Artsakh. Azerbaijani media has taken on the task of portraying him as a criminal oligarch, enriched through illicit means, as a drug baron. Recently being appointed to a high and responsible position as state minister in the Republic of Artsakh has further aggravated the Azerbaijanis. They are confident that Vardanyan is a Russian project, introduced by "Russian special services." This is reported by 'Hraparak.'

The media notes that one Azerbaijani pro-government outlet writes: "The 'Vardanyan project' has been modeled and practically implemented by Russian special services. This is doubly alarming for Baku because Moscow has been attentively monitoring the initial contacts between the Azerbaijani side and the Karabakh Armenians. Bridges were built, dialogue developed, and plans for a heavenly future were formed. The Karabakh Armenians have seriously discussed and pondered an alternative for reintegration into Azerbaijani society with full citizen rights. However, quite unexpectedly, amidst the negotiation process, the Russian special services activated the 'Ruben Vardanyan project.' And, of course, this project aimed to disrupt the Azerbaijani game... Azerbaijan is determined and will in no case allow the replay of the early 1990s scenario. Volski, Kocharian, Sargsyan, and other political overlays have remained under the debris of a monstrous historical chimera."

As for Araik Harutyunyan, the Azerbaijani media writes: "Harutyunyan has completed his final mission; the Armenian Moor has done his job and is now out of the game. According to reliable information, Araik Harutyunyan will soon leave the Russian sphere of influence and abandon the leadership of the Karabakh separatists. But this does not free him from responsibility towards Azerbaijan. Harutyunyan will continue to be listed in official Baku's records as a war criminal." The irony is that the term 'war criminal' is used by a country that has committed war crimes against Artsakh and Armenia while labeling the leader of the victimized country, against whom these war crimes were perpetrated, as a 'war criminal.'

According to the media, during the recent bilateral meeting in Sochi, Aliyev seized the opportunity to express his discontent to Putin regarding Ruben Vardanyan's activities in Artsakh. Putin responded that he knows nothing about Ruben Vardanyan's presence in Artsakh.