Well-known Russian billionaire of Armenian origin Ruben Vardanyan announced his decision to renounce Russian citizenship and move to Nagorno-Karabakh. Vardanyan stated this in an appeal on YouTube.
On camera, a former Russian businessman talks about his good intentions, about his desire to restore Nagorno-Karabakh. Vardanyan says, almost with tears in his eyes, “I decided to move to Artsakh, renouncing my Russian citizenship. This decision was not easy for me, but I am sure that it is so right … “.
However, it is obvious to everyone that behind all this lyrics there is only one desire – to get rid of any ties with Russia, where Vardanyan made his fortune in order to get out of the sanctions of the West. Obviously, renouncing the citizenship of Russia and declaring the transition to the citizenship of Artsakh, unrecognized by anyone in the world, will not give the businessman any economic benefit. But this step can bring a businessman and political bonuses. It is no secret that the West has warm feelings for the Armenians in Artsakh. Vardanyan, with his statement, demonstrates, first of all, to the West, that he is his own, and he can be understood, forgiven, and even excluded from the sanctions lists.
I can’t believe in the souls of Vardanyan’s wonderful impulses also for the reason that Artsakh needed his funds before. But they weren’t. Vardanyan himself after the 2016 war spoke about the technical backwardness of the Armenian army. But the results of the war already in 2020 showed that nothing had been done to eliminate this backwardness. Vardanyan did nothing. Moreover, back in May 2022, the businessman stated that he was not going to leave Russia. And now he renounces citizenship and appears in Nagorno-Karabakh.
It is obvious that Vardanyan does not give a damn about the Armenians, and all the steps of the businessman are aimed solely at saving his own capital.
There are big doubts that the Kremlin will appreciate such a move by a businessman. It is no secret that the Kremlin does not like traitors. More than once people trying to spend their money earned in Russia outside of it ended badly.
It is unlikely that Vardanyan, who moved to Karabakh, where Russian and Azerbaijani security forces work, can expect a good fate.
