The Azerbaijan State News Agency

Testimonies of victims heard at Ruben Vardanyan’s trial VIDEO

Baku, December 1, AZERTAC

The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious crimes, continued on December 1.

The open court session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov on the panel (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in the language he understands (Russian) as well as a state-funded defence lawyer.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the panel of judges, the prosecutors upholding the state accusation, the interpreters and others to the victims and legal successors of victims participating in the hearing for the first time, and explained their rights and obligations under the law.

The testimonies of the victims were then heard.

Sardar Taghiyev, the legal heir of victim Sabuhi Taghiyev, mentioned that his brother was killed by enemy fire in Lachin.

Responding to inquiries from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, victim Zeka Valiyev stated that Allahverdi Safiyev and Elnur Karimov were killed as a result of a mortar shell fired by the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups in the Khanabad village of the Khojaly district, which exploded near them, adding that he and Rasul Aghayev sustained various bodily injuries .

Responding to questions from public prosecutor Fuad Musayev, victim Vahid Aljanov noted one person was killed, along with him and several others wounded as a result of a mortar shell fired into the territory of the Lachin district as a result of the enemy’s large-scale provocation.

Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Public Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, victim Elgun Ismayilov stated that he and Safar Huseynguliyev were wounded as a result of fire opened by the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups in the Gulyatag village of the Aghdara district.

Victim Bakhtiyar Huseynov noted that he was wounded as a result of an explosion near a hand grenade thrown by the enemy in the direction of the Kalbajar district, with several others injured during the provocation.

Victim Nusrat Orujov mentioned that he sustained a shoulder injury from an explosion caused by an enemy-thrown hand grenade in Kalbajar.

Responding to inquiries from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, victim Javid Khosiyev stated that he and Javad Guliyev sustained various bodily injuries as a result of an explosion near a mortar shell fired by the enemy in the Aghdam-Khojaly direction.

Responding to questions from state prosecutor Vusal Aliyev, victim Nihad Seyidzade underlined that as a result of the enemy's fire in the direction of the Khojaly district, he, Murad Huseynov, and Ravan Aghazada sustained various bodily injuries.

In his testimony, victim Baylar Karimov said that he was wounded as a result of mortar shell explosion fired in the direction of Aghdam-Khojaly.

The court session continued with the examination of documents and other evidence in the criminal case file.

The next court hearing has been scheduled for December 2.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).

Testimonies of victims heard at Ruben Vardanyan’s trial VIDEO

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

President Ilham Aliyev’s social media accounts shared video on State Sovereignty Day VIDEO

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva shared post on September 20 – State Sovereignty Day

Top stories update

Baku Declaration signed on establishment of Turkic Union of Composers

Grape and Wine Festival kicks off in Shamakhi

President Ilham Aliyev’s social media accounts shared post on September 20 – State Sovereignty Day

Azerbaijani veterans attend event marking Veterans Day in Türkiye

Romanian media: Azerbaijani gas plays a crucial role in the country’s energy security ahead of winter

Special Representative of President of Azerbaijan holds several meetings in Romania

Trump says he is banning CNN and Politico from White House

“Turkic Music Awards” to be established

Explosion reported at Syrian army site west of Deir ez-Zor

Baku hosts opening ceremony of 1st Kurultai of Composers of Turkic World

Azerbaijani athlete wins Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Sweden

Top stories update

Azerbaijani mugham and Chinese music performed in Beijing

Baku Bus drivers’ musical performance in spotlight of Türkiye`s World Türk TV Channel

Death toll at 31 in Pakistan police compound attack, AFP reports

Record US diesel prices squeeze farmers; food prices may rise

1st Kurultai of Composers of Turkic World opens with gala concert in Baku

Barcelona has a bold plan to protect its vulnerable coastline – and it could be prize-winning

Robert Mobili: The aim was to present the Albanian Church to the world as an Armenian Church

Azerbaijani pianist performs solo concert at Warsaw University

Azercosmos successfully completes its external audit on ISO standards

Seminar on historical-geographical atlas of Caucasian Albania held in Baku

Azerbaijani servicemen participate in international competition in South Korea

Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry: Stronger together, Determined together!

Azerbaijan represented at FAO’s interregional policy dialogue on greening agrifood systems

At least 26 killed in South Sudan tribal clashes

Top stories update

Key details announced for first-ever FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan

WHO flags growing health workforce gap as workers and patients age

Azerbaijan’s chess teams claim another win at Olympiad

What we do not know about “Dilbaz” horses: They get accustomed to their owners from foalhood – report from Agstafa

Uzeyir Hajibayli’s legacy featured on Russia’s Orpheus Radio

Tbilisi hosts inaugural regional summit of central bank governors

ANAMA Chairman meets with UK ambassador

Azerbaijan to host “Power of Unity – 2026” Joint Military Exercise

Azerbaijan Airlines and Azerbaijan National Conservatory hold music competition to mark National Music Day

Azerbaijan Airlines named Best Regional Airline in Central Asia & CIS at 2026 World Airline Awards

Istanbul Airport’s 4th runway will boost its global connectivity: President Erdogan

Kobakhidze – Georgia ready to establish diplomatic relations with Naoero (Nauru)

Barcelona's coffers are suffering despite record revenues

Foreign Ministry: We call on France to refrain from groundless and biased allegations against Azerbaijan

ANAS hosts meeting with delegation from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Azerbaijani NGOs condemn campaign launched in Armenia against diplomatic corps’ visit to liberated territories

Alban-Udi Christian Community condemns Armenia's revanchist reaction to diplomatic corps' visit to liberated territories

AFFA, Football Federation of Pakistan explore cooperation

Khankendi hosts 5th Meeting of Heads of Agencies Responsible for Development of Human Resources of OTS member states

AC30 participants tour Azerbaijan’s National Hydrometeorological Service

Azerbaijan’s National Music Day celebrated in Rome

Export of hazelnuts from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria and other EU countries discussed

Chief Justice of Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court attends international conference in Seoul

Japan raises interest rate to new 31-year high to curb rising prices

World-renowned earthquake engineers to gather at Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction

Floods kill three people, inundate 16,000 houses in northern, central region of Vietnam

FIFA rejects Spain's request regarding Barcelona star

Former NBA player Michael Sweetney passes away at age 43

Azerbaijan represented at Second Council of Europe Business and Human Rights Forum in Strasbourg

Azerbaijan elected to ICPEN Advisory Group

Vessel attacked on Omani side of Strait of Hormuz, crew safe

New tiger cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century

Top stories update

Director of Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum delivers speech at international conference in Gagauzia

Houthis claim 37 Saudi airstrikes on Yemen in 24 hrs

ADY renews locomotive fleet: New locomotives delivered to Baku from China

Gold and silver prices rise on global markets

18th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival kicks off

ASOSAI meeting highlights expansion of cooperation among member supreme audit institutions

Oil prices decline in global markets

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service Chief attends 28th conference of special service agencies of Turkic states

World stars of music, ballet and theatre at Baku International Arts Festival

US approves visas for Iranian delegation to attend UN General Assembly

Azeri Light sells for $121

Merz, Trump discuss Ukraine war, Gulf crisis

Trump says US, Poland making 'major progress' toward new US Army base

Chinese FM holds phone talks with Rubio on high-level interactions

Iran orders Swedish diplomat to leave within 48 hours in tit-for-tat move

Lionel Messi hits historic 100-goal milestone as Inter Miami conquer Cruz Azul to lift Campeones Cup

President Ilham Aliyev’s social media accounts shared video about his visit to Shamakhi district VIDEO

N. Korean sports minister arrives in Japan ahead of Asian Games

Azerbaijan’s Khankedi, Romania’s Baia Mare become sister cities

Candidates of Azerbaijani origin win seats in Swedish elections

Azerbaijan, Estonia hold another round of consular consultations

Baku hosts conference on “Preservation of Historical and Religious Monuments: Challenges and Prospects”

Museums of Azerbaijan and UAE enhance cooperation

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Nikolski, Alaska region

Political analyst: Armenia’s existing revanchist approach undermines confidence in peace process –  COMMENTARY

King Charles warns of 'existential danger' of AI falling into wrong hands

Top stories update

International audience briefed on Azerbaijan’s economy at US university

President Ilham Aliyev inspected conservation works at Pir Omar Sultan shrine in Shamakhi VIDEO

Azerbaijan’s Chamber of Accounts and Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection reach agreement on joint efforts

Azerbaijan, TRACECA explore cooperation

Azerbaijan Insurers Association, Australia’s Global Finance Association sign agreement on institutional membership and cooperation

Azerbaijani delegation joins international conference marking 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Supreme Audit Chamber

Oil cargo accounts for over 40 percent of Azerbaijan’s maritime freight transport

Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan sign Roadmap for 2026-2028 on expanding energy cooperation

Azerbaijani MP: Historical and cultural heritage should not be a subject of political debates – COMMENTARY

SOCAR, Uzbek companies explore enhancing cooperation