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In Nagorno-Karabakh, the former separatist government leader was arrested Wednesday.

Ruben Vardanyan headed the breakaway ethnic Armenian government in the region between November 2022 through February. Azerbaijan authorities detained him as he was attempting to leave the contested region.

He faces up to 14 years for charges of financial terrorism, participation in the formation of armed groups, and illegally residing in Azerbaijan.

The Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as Azerbaijan territory, but separatists controlled the region for three decades. A military blitz last week forced them to surrender.