A Baku court today prolonged the term of detention of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan who has been held in an Azerbaijani prison on several “terrorism” charges for the past year.

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) detained Vardanyan last September as he attempted to travel from Karabakh to Armenia via the Lachin Corridor after Azerbaijani military forces attacked and regained control of the breakaway republic. He was later taken to Baku.

Earlier this week, Azerbaijan also extended the detention of former Republic of Artsakh presidents Arayik Harutunyan, Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan, former Artsakh National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former Artsakh Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, former Artsakh Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, and former Artsakh Armed Forces Deputy Commander Davit Manukyan.