Jacek Protasiewicz: Holding Vardanyan accountable means restoring authority of international law

Polish politician and former Vice President of the European Parliament, Jacek Protasiewicz, has called for the prosecution of sponsors of separatism on sovereign territories—particularly those who support or fund separatist movements used by Russia as tools of hybrid warfare, which combines military aggression, economic pressure, and political sabotage.

According to Report, in an interview with the Lithuanian outlet Alfa, Protasiewicz emphasized that one of the main sponsors of separatism in Azerbaijan, Ruben Vardanyan, had close ties with the Kremlin and actively collaborated with Russia in its attempt to expand its influence in the South Caucasus.

"The case of R. Vardanyan illustrates the broader issue of hybrid influence, where financial networks, propaganda, and political manipulation are used in tandem to destabilize regions. His actions in Karabakh and connections with the Putin regime must be thoroughly investigated, and justice must prevail through transparent legal processes," the politician said.

According to Protasiewicz, holding such individuals accountable is not only a matter of justice but also a restoration of international law and a deterrent to other territorial actors who may seek to follow a similar path.

"The Vardanyan case, currently being tried in a Baku court, shows how financial elites can become instruments of geopolitical disorder, blurring the lines between business, politics, and warfare," noted Alfa.

Meanwhile, Romanian publication Stiripesurse emphasized that the European Union is now grappling with a complex web of destabilizing forces, where Russian oligarchs fund separatist movements using illicit means to support pro-Russian enclaves.

"These oligarchs are key players in the Kremlin's broader strategy to weaken neighboring democracies and undermine European security," Stiripesurse quoted Protasiewicz as saying.

According to the outlet, Vardanyan's companies, long embedded within Putin's sphere of influence, were used by the Kremlin for various money-laundering schemes, with significant funds being funneled to separatists in the South Caucasus and beyond.

"Vardanyan’s presence in Karabakh was not merely symbolic—it was part of a deliberate strategy to reinforce Russian influence in the volatile South Caucasus, a region adjacent to NATO's southeastern flank. Following Azerbaijan's retaking of Karabakh in 2023, Ruben Vardanyan was arrested by Azerbaijani security services, and the ongoing legal proceedings are now seen as a landmark case of justice against separatists," the article reads.

Furthermore, Moldovan outlet Realitatea reported that an increasing number of EU politicians are recognizing the real threat posed by pro-Russian oligarchs.

"More and more European politicians are calling for sanctions against these 'war hawks'—such as Karabakh separatist sponsor Ruben Vardanyan, DNR-LNR backer Konstantin Malofeyev, and fugitive Moldovan MP Ilan Shor, who has been convicted of fraud," the publication noted.