Arayik Harutyunyan confirms illegal resettlement process in formerly occupied Azerbaijani territories
Baku, June 23, AZERTAC
During the ongoing court proceedings at the Baku Military Court on June 23, defendant Arayik Harutyunyan, while responding to questions from the state prosecutors, confirmed that individuals from Syria and Lebanon had been resettled in Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories.
He also admitted that some Armenian citizens living in Gorus and Gafan — Armenia’s border districts — had resettled in the formerly occupied Azerbaijani districts of Zangilan, Gubadli, and Lachin, and added: “These areas offered great opportunities for agriculture. The resettled citizens were engaged in farming. You are aware of the geography of Syunik. There are fewer opportunities for agriculture there. However, Zangilan, Gubadli, and Lachin offered significantly more opportunities in this regard.”
Harutyunyan stated that those coming from Armenia were not particularly encouraged to settle compared to those arriving from other countries: “We did not interfere. They decided for themselves where to live and what to do.”
He further confirmed the resettlement of people of Armenian origin in the Lachin and Kalbajar districts: “That happened later. No Armenians had lived in the Lachin district before. As far as I know, the situation was the same in the Kalbajar district.”
The trial of citizens of the Republic of Armenia, who are accused of committing numerous serious crimes - including acts of aggression, planning and waging aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and other grave offenses - will continue on June 30. These charges stem from Armenia’s military aggression and include crimes against peace and humanity, as well as war crimes.
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