Ruben Vardanyan refused a lawyer in his Baku court case and explained the reason for this decision
23.10.2025,
11:29
Former Artsakh State Minister, billionaire, and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan announced that he has refused the services of lawyer Avraham Berman in an Azerbaijani court.
YEREVAN, October 23. /ARKA/. Former Artsakh State Minister, billionaire, and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan announced that he has refused the services of lawyer Avraham Berman in an Azerbaijani court.
In a commentary transmitted through his family and published on his supporters' Telegram channel, Vardanyan explained the reasons for this forced decision.
"The gross violations of international and Azerbaijani judicial law during the current trial have turned the hearings into an outright farce. Under these circumstances, all procedural defense options have been exhausted over the past months," Vardanyan's statement reads.
He notes that:
1. I was not allowed to review the case materials and the indictment. I continue to be denied access to the materials: I still cannot review 422 volumes of my case, and the court has not provided an official translation of key procedural documents.
2. I was not given the opportunity to defend myself in court. I was unable to exchange documents with my lawyer to prepare for the court hearings without restrictions and preliminary verification, and I was not given access to audio and video materials.
3. All my previous motions were ignored by the investigative bodies and the court. Important requests from my lawyer, necessary for a fair trial, also went unanswered.
4. Another reason for my refusal of a lawyer in protest against the staged trial was the court's refusal to call witnesses who could clarify the circumstances of the case and confirm the facts. The court denied this motion, thereby completely depriving the trial of any objectivity or fairness.
"Over time, the situation has only worsened. In this theater of the absurd, the lawyer's role, regardless of their desires and efforts, is reduced to maintaining the appearance of legality in the trial. I refuse to participate in this farce. I don't need the illusion of a defense—I demand genuine respect for my procedural rights," Vardanyan stated.
