Baku, July 25, AZERTAC

On July 25, an open court hearing continued in the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others. They stand accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes - including the preparation and conduct of aggressive war - genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, the forcible seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses stemming from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

The hearing, held at the Baku Military Court under the presidency of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (Reserve Judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that each defendant was provided with an interpreter in their preferred language and defense counsel.

The session was attended by the accused, their legal representatives, several victims, their legal successors or representatives, and state prosecutors.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the members of the judicial panel, prosecutors, interpreters, and others to victims participating for the first time, explaining their rights and obligations under the law.

Victim Ilgar Ahmadov testified that he was injured in a mine explosion in Mehdili village of Jabrayil district in 2022, which resulted in the amputation of three of his fingers.

Mursal Orujlu stated that he was injured in the Harami plain during the April 2016 clashes.

In his testimony, Zahir Zeynalov mentioned that he was injured due to a shell explosion by Armenian armed forces in the Tapgaragoyunlu village of Goranboy while serving as a military officer on April 2, 2016. He noted that during the incident, Armenian armed forces fired at their position using various caliber weapons and artillery.

Yagub Mammadov reported being injured on March 23, 1993, when Armenian armed forces opened fire while he was repairing power lines in Zangilan. Responding to questions from public prosecutor Fuad Musayev, Mammadov stated that due to the occupation of Zangilan by Armenian armed forces, he abandoned all his property there.

Niyazi Abbasov testified that he sustained multiple bodily injuries from an exploding shell fired from the by Armenian armed forces during the April 2016 clashes. Responding to the questions from public prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, he underlined that two of his fellow soldiers were killed during the incident.

Responding to a question from defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan, N. Abbasov emphasized that they repelled the attacks of the Armenian armed forces at the time, adding that they were defending their position.

Aladdin Khalilov, the legal successor of the victim, stated that his son was killed due to Armenian armed forces’ provocation in October during the 44-day Patriotic War.

David Mammadov stated that he sustained multiple bodily injuries due to the shelling by the Armenian armed forces in Tovuz on July 12, 2020.

Vugar Afandiyev recounted being captured on November 23, 1991 while serving in the military in the Gazakh region and taken to Armenia’s Ijevan region. The victim was held in a cell of the temporary detention center of the Ijevan internal affairs department. Responding to the questions from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, V. Afandiyev noted that in captivity, he was subjected to torture. He said his fingers were broken, hairs from his beard were pulled out with pliers, and was beaten with a rifle butt and a baton. On December 3, he escaped the isolation center by dislodging stones from the walls. He then walked for three days, reaching Barkhudarly village in Gazakh and, thus escaping captivity.

Shamil Abdullayev testified that he was captured in Aghdara in July 1992 and released in November 1993. While in captivity, he was committed to beatings and torture.

Elvin Akbarov stated in his testimony that he sustained shrapnel wounds in the Jabrayil district on October 6 during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020.

Victim Valiahad Valiyev stated that during the 44-day war, he sustained bullet and shrapnel wounds in Zangilan on October 22, and was captured by the Armenian armed forces. According to him, his fellow servicemen were martyred during those events.

Responding to the questions from public prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, Valiyev noted that while in captivity and following his recovery, he was subjected to severe torture, namely his right big toe was clamped with pliers, and he was punched and kicked in the face, as well as hit with baton on his legs and arms. V. Valiyev was handed over to Azerbaijan on December 14.

Rovshan Huseynov testified that he was captured by Armenian armed forces on June 21, 1998, while serving in the military in the Gadabay district. After being held in captivity in a prison in Yerevan for 1 year and 8 months, he was handed over to Azerbaijan. In response to questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Prosecutor General’s Department for Public Prosecution, he stated that he was subjected to torture, inhuman and cruel treatment, and was regularly beaten.

Victims – Nahid Zeynalov, Rashmi Hummatov, Aziz Gahramanov, Afgan Kamilov, Yunis Abdiyev, Farhad Taghiyev, Subhan Alirzayev, Samir Aliyev, Hijran Sultanov, and Hasan Gurbanov - stated they were wounded during the anti-terror operations conducted by the Azerbaijani Army in September of 2023, as a result of fire opened by Armenian armed forces and the Armenian illegal armed detachments.

Victims Nariman Ibrahimov and Nurlan Musayev emphasized that they were also wounded by gunfire from the Armenian armed forces remnants and the Armenian armed detachments in 2022, in Kalbajar and Lachin respectively.

In their testimonies, victims Dovran Dadashov, Tarlan Mahmudov, and Anar Mahmudov noted they were wounded during the Patriotic War clashes in 2020.

Victim Shirvan Mammadov said he was captured in the Vejnali village of Zangilan district on May 14, 1992 and was kept in Armenia. While in captivity, he was given only three small meals over the period of 8 days.

Victim Rauf Gafarov noted he was captured in the Fuzuli district in April of 1994 and was handed over to the Azerbaijani side on May 10, 1996. While in captivity, he was beaten and subjected to torture. He, along with other captured Azerbaijanis, was compelled to take part in construction of Samvel Babayan’s house.

Victim Ramiz Musayev stated he was captured in Lachin district on May 18, 1992, subjected to torture, with his limbs having been burnt by cigarettes.

Victim Alakbar Alakbarov claimed he was captured in Gubadli district on August 27, 1993 and taken to Armenia. While in captivity, he was constantly beaten and compelled into forced labor. He was handed over to Azerbaijan in 1995.

Another victim Abuzar Manafov said he was wounded and captured in the Kurdmahmudlu village of Fuzuli district, on January 9, 1994, and was released on May 10, 1996. While in captivity, he was kept at the Shusha prison, subjected to torture, and had his fingers cut.

Having been captured for different periods, victims Abdulazim Mammadov (65 days), Adil Damirov (9 months), Mehman Mirzayev (2 years), Arif Allazov (4 months), and Afar Mustafayev (1 year and 4 months) noted they were beaten and tortured while in captivity.

Other victims Rovshan Salahov, Alamshah Hasanov, Zohrab Heydarov were kept in captivity at separate times. While in captivity, Z. Heydarov's leg was frostbitten. According to him, an Armenian military doctor amputated 4 toes on his left leg and 2 toes on his right leg without injecting anesthesia. He added that he fainted from the pain at the time.

Victims Vagif Zulfugarov, Nazim Seyidov, Anar Safarov, Bakhsheyish Aghayev, and Adalat Aghalarov said they were expelled from Fuzuli, Aghdam, and Lachin districts respectively, adding that they had abandoned their properties in the areas formerly occupied by Armenian armed forces. B. Aghayev, a resident of the Oghuldara village in Lachin district, said that his relative 80-year old Pari Ilyasova died from frostbite during the occupation, while several of his relatives are still missing.

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

The court proceedings are set to continue on July 28.

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.