Baku, July 11, AZERTAC

On July 11, the Baku Military Court continued open hearings in the criminal case against Armenian nationals Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others. They stand accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes - including planning and waging aggressive war, genocide, and violations of the laws and customs of war - terrorism, financing terrorism, the forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other offenses committed during Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

The hearing, presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, alongside Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (with Gunel Samadova as reserve judge), ensured that each defendant was provided with interpretation services in their native language as well as legal defense. The session was attended by the accused, their legal teams, several victims, their legal successors and representatives, and state prosecutors.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the judicial panel, prosecutors, interpreters, and other court participants to the victims attending for the first time, outlining their rights and obligations under the law.

Victim Mehriban Bakirova testified that during the Khojaly genocide on the night of February 25–26, 1992, she was taken hostage by Armenian armed forces and held in Khankendi for 10 days. At the time, she had four young children, including her newborn daughter Gunay, who was only a few days old. Her one-and-a-half-year-old son sustained shrapnel injuries to his head. While in captivity, she endured torture, and her captors demanded information about her husband, Abdulla Hamzayev, who worked at the Khojaly airport police station. Her daughter Gunay, injured during captivity, passed away at age 15. Responding to a question from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, Bakirova noted that Khojaly was under constant shelling before the genocide, forcing residents to hide in basements. She gave birth to Gunay in a basement on February 23. During captivity, her newborn was taken from her, but a woman named Victoria, of non-Armenian descent, found and returned the child after three days. The court displayed a page from “Moskovskiye Novosti,” featuring a photo by war photojournalist Victoria Ivleva (whose Khojaly photographs also appeared in the book “Khojaly: Witness to a War Crime. Armenia in the Dock”). Bakirova confirmed that the woman in the photo was the one who helped her.

Mursal Ilyasov, a Khojaly resident, testified that on the night of February 25–26, 1992, when Armenian armed forces attacked, he and his family sought refuge in their neighbor Osman Hamdiyev’s basement, along with 26 members of four families. The basement was attacked with grenades and gunfire, resulting in Ilyasov sustaining injuries to his face, left arm, and right hand fingers. Most houses on his street, including his own, were burned, and his 92-year-old grandmother perished in the fire. His father, Mahammad Ilyasov, was shot dead in front of him, and his brother, Ahmad Ilyasov, was also killed by Armenian forces. Ilyasov was taken hostage in Khankendi, where he endured torture and beatings. Responding to state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, he confirmed that he was handed over to Azerbaijani forces a few days later.

Victim Alovsat Guliyev, a Khojaly resident, stated that on January 21, 1992, before the genocide, he was shot in the head by Armenian forces while on duty. During the February 25–26 attack, he hid in a basement but later fled to the Aghdam district, as confirmed in response to a question from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Prosecutor General’s Department for State Prosecution.

Avaz Abbasov, a resident of Karkijahan, testified that in 1989, when he was in third grade and his brother Eyvaz was in first grade, Armenians threw a grenade at them. A group had approached, declaring their intent to take revenge on Azerbaijanis. When Abbasov tried to call for help, the grenade was thrown, killing his brother and severely injuring him. He was treated in hospitals in Shusha, Aghdam, and Baku. Another brother was later killed in battles defending Shusha.

Giyas Aliyev, from Aghdaban village in the Kalbajar district, testified that on April 8, 1992, during an attack by Armenian armed forces, he sustained a severe gunshot wound. Responding to Assistant Prosecutor General Tugay Rahimli, he stated that homes were burned, civilians, including his relatives, were killed, and four villagers were crushed to death by a tank. His uncle and a five-year-old girl were shot at their doorstep; the girl was buried alive while wounded, as witnessed by a neighbor who later recovered her body.

Sadig Rahimov testified that he fought in defense of Azerbaijani territories from 1991 to 1993 and was wounded in Sugovushan. He witnessed Armenian forces driving a tank over a wounded soldier from Yevlakh.

Tunzala Pashayeva, a Khojaly resident, stated that during the February 25–26, 1992, attack, she and her family fled to Katik forest but were taken hostage. Before their capture, Armenian forces shot and killed her cousin, Mehdi Hasanov.

Valida Nasibova testified that during the Khojaly genocide, she was wounded. Responding to state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, she confirmed that her brother’s two children were killed, and her mother and daughters-in-law were injured. Her own child was found frozen in the forest after a day.

Rashad Aliyev testified that as a minor in 1992, he was wounded by Armenian gunfire.

Mushfig Sadigov stated that during the Khojaly genocide, his father was wounded, and close relatives were killed. He described civilian deaths, looted and burned homes, and Armenians luring survivors to gas pipelines they had ignited, only to take them hostage in the cold.

Samira Alasgarova testified that on August 26, 1998, she and her father, Mirza Alasgarov, were taken hostage by Armenian forces while working in their field in Shikhheybat village, Tovuz district. They were handed over to Azerbaijan three days later.

Elfag Hajiyev testified that on June 12, 1993, during battles in Marzili village, Aghdam district, he was wounded and captured. In captivity, he endured severe torture, including having a cross carved into his chest and his gold teeth forcibly removed. While working in Shusha prison, he was shocked by an electric current from a metal pipe. He awoke in a children’s hospital in Khankendi and was handed over to Azerbaijan after nine months and 18 days.

Umud Ayvazov testified that he was wounded in battles in the Chanlibel area.

Matlab Allahverdiyev, from Tapgaragoyunlu village, Goranboy district, testified that on May 16, 1993, while working in a potato field, he, his father Shiraslan, brother Kamil, Shakir Kazimov, and Faig Hasanov were taken hostage. They were held in occupied Azerbaijani territories for about 25 days before being transferred to Yerevan, where they endured brutal torture and beatings. They were handed over to Azerbaijan on September 28, 1993.

Arif Musayev testified that on May 10, 1992, in Alibayli village, Tovuz district, he was wounded by shrapnel from an Armenian artillery shell, requiring 10 surgeries and ongoing pain.

Victims Khalig Isgandarov, Eldar Gasimov (who lost his right eye to a mortar shell), and Namig Naghiyev testified that they were injured in Alibayli village, Tovuz district, in 1992 and 1993 due to Armenian provocations.

Idris Aslanov testified that in 1996, while herding cattle in the Tovuz district, he was taken hostage by Armenian forces, tortured, and released after a month.

Novruz Novruzov testified that he was captured during battles, tortured, and handed over to Azerbaijan after about 20 days.

Yashar Taghiyev testified that he was wounded in battles in 1992 and 1993.

Rauf Mehtiyev, aged 15 at the time, testified that he was taken hostage by Armenian forces while herding cattle and was held for 18 days.

The victims also responded to questions from the accused, their defense lawyers, and their representatives.

The trial is scheduled to continue on July 14.

Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian state—including the aforementioned criminal association—on the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others.

The following individuals—Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan—are being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and other articles.