Azerbaijan extends arrest period for Armenian separatist Vardanyan

The arrest period has been extended for Ruben Vardanyan on the ongoing criminal case initiated by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, Report informs.

The decision was issued by the Sabail District Court of Baku.

Significant suspicions have been revealed that Vardanyan, who is currently a citizen of Armenia, has committed criminal acts under articles 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 279.3 (participation in the organization and activities of armed formations or groups not stipulated by law), and 318.1 (illegal crossing of the state border of Azerbaijan) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

During the past period, several international organizations and foreign media outlets have released extensive investigative materials exposing money laundering mechanisms in various countries and other actions of Ruben Vardanyan. He is recognized as the only billionaire with Armenian citizenship who, after renouncing his Russian citizenship and acquiring Armenian citizenship, became the so-called "state minister" of the separatist regime in Karabakh.