Before the checkpoint, we witness arbitrary arrests by Azerbaijan, which is an extremely disturbing fact. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting of the Armenian government—and with respect to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) ex-state minister Ruben Vardanyan being arrested by Azerbaijan.

"We must record that our state agencies must take proper steps in all such cases to protect the rights of arbitrarily arrested persons, including in international courts. This should be on our agenda until these matters are not properly addressed," the Armenian PM noted.

The Azerbaijani side on Wednesday arrested Ruben Vardanyan, former Minister of State of Artsakh, on his way to Armenia from Artsakh, and transferred him to Azerbaijani Baku. He has been charged with "financing terrorism."

It is noteworthy, however, that Nikol Pashinyan did not mention Ruben Vardanyan’s name in his remarks in this regard.