The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan welcomed the opinion published on March 13, 2025, by the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (A/HRC/WGAD/2024/46), which dismissed Armenia’s claims regarding the case of Ruben Vardanyan.
The Working Group confirmed that Vardanyan was not arrested for freedom of expression or political activity, as claimed by the Armenian side. Instead, his detention is related to charges under Articles 214-1 (terrorism financing), 279.3 (participation in the creation of illegal armed groups), and 318.1 (illegal crossing of the state border) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Working Group emphasized that the charges against Vardanyan were supported by concrete evidence, and the decision to detain him was based on a court ruling that examined the relevant grounds. During the investigation, Vardanyan was provided with a translator fluent in his language, had legal representation by his own lawyer, and was ensured other procedural rights.
When determining the preventive measure, the court applied an individualized approach, conducted the necessary investigation, and justified its decision based on the severity, nature of the alleged crimes, and the factual circumstances of the case.
The document also highlights that freedom of expression and freedom of association are not absolute rights and may be restricted in the interest of national security and public order.
The Working Group rejected allegations of a presumed violation of Vardanyan’s presumption of innocence and confirmed that his arrest was based on reasonable suspicion. Claims regarding the alleged denial of his right to a fair trial were deemed unfounded, and the judicial procedures were found to be in line with international standards.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the UN’s conclusion has definitively disproven Armenia’s smear campaign against Azerbaijan and demonstrated the baselessness of its attempts to manipulate international law.
