#BBC: "Vardanyan and other former ethnic Armenian leaders are not part of the agreement"

"The two neighbouring Caucasus countries have agreed the text of a historic peace deal to end decades long conflict over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, but Vardanyan and other former ethnic Armenian leaders are not part of the agreement.

They are on trial in a military court in Baku, accused of war crimes dating back decades", BBC South Caucasus correspondent Rayhan Demytrie wrote.

Azerbaijan insists it is complying with international legal standards, and that it has a responsibility to hold to account those suspected of having committed war crimes.

But last month, the government in Baku ordered the closure of the local offices of the International Red Cross, the only international organisation with access to Armenian prisoners.

Vardanyan returns to court on Tuesday, but supporters fear his case will be overshadowed by a historic peace deal taking shape between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The details are yet to be made public but officials say the draft text does not include the issue of the prisoners on trial or the right of ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their homes.

Vardanyan has warned this is a mistake.

"This is not the trial of just me and 15 others – this is the trial of all Armenians," he said in a voice message to supporters.

"If you don't understand this – it is a big tragedy because this is not the end of the story, not the end of the conflict, it's only the next stage of the conflict, for all sides", Vardanyan said.