The sentence was handed down after the state prosecutor insisted on life imprisonment for Vardanyan.
The court found him guilty on multiple counts of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, including charges of aggressive war, deportation, forced relocation of people, persecution, illegal deprivation of liberty, torture, mercenarism, violation of the laws of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, creating a criminal community, illegal arms trafficking, threats to aviation security, violent seizure of power, creation of illegal armed formations, and illegal crossing of borders.
It was previously reported that the criminal case against Vardanyan is related to accusations of crimes against peace and humanity, as well as war crimes and terrorism.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan initiated a military operation in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, during which armed formations were disarmed, and a number of former regional leaders, including Vardanyan, were detained.
