Azerbaijan arrests the former head of separatist government after recapturing Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan arrests former head of Nagorno-Karabakh's separatist government, as tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians flee region. Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire businessman, was arrested as he tried to cross into Armenia. Azerbaijan's Health Ministry said 192 troops were killed and 511 were wounded in the offensive.

Azerbaijan said it arrested the former head of Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist government as he tried to cross into Armenia on Wednesday, following Azerbaijan’s 24-hour blitz last week to reclaim control of the enclave.

The arrest of Ruben Vardanyan was announced by Azerbaijan’s border guard service. It appears to reflect Azerbaijan’s intention to quickly and forcefully enforce its grip on the region after the military offensive that has prompted a rapid exodus of tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians.

Mr. Vardanyan, a billionaire businessman who made his fortune in Russia where he owned a major investment bank, moved to Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022 and served as the head the regional government for several months before stepping down earlier this year.

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Azerbaijan's border guard service said Mr. Vardanyan was escorted to the country's capital of Baku and handed over to “the relevant state bodies” that will decide his fate. It posted a picture of Mr. Vardanyan held by two border guards next to a helicopter.

Also Wednesday, Azerbaijan’s Health Ministry said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during the offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh. One Azeri civilian also died in the hostilities, the ministry said.

Nagorno-Karabakh officials said earlier that at least 200 people on their side, including 10 civilians, were killed and over 400 were wounded in the fighting.