Ruben Vardanyan rejects Azerbaijani legal representation during court hearing in trumped-up case

Former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan, who is illegally imprisoned in Baku, announced during a court hearing in a trumped-up case that he refuses legal representation by an Azerbaijani-appointed lawyer. Vardanyan stated that his rights would be defended solely by his contracted lawyer, Abraham Berman, Azerbaijani media says.

As noted, Vardanyan and his lawyer requested a private meeting at the beginning of the trial. The Baku court granted the request, after which a recess was announced.