The Baku Court of Appeal has rejected the complaint of Ruben Vardanyan

 The Baku Court of Appeal has rejected the complaint of Ruben Vardanyan, the former "state minister" of the Karabakh separatists, challenging the decision to extend his detention, according to local media reports.

Vardanyan and his lawyer sought to overturn the arrest extension, but the court presided over by Judge Gadim Babayev, ruled the complaint was unfounded after reviewing the case materials, media reported.

On Oct. 18, the Sabail District Court in Baku extended Vardanyan's detention. Prosecutors have raised credible suspicions that Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen born in 1968, committed crimes under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, including Article 214-1 (financing of terrorism), Article 279.3 (participation in the creation and activities of illegal armed formations), and Article 318.1 (illegal crossing of the state border).