Armenian defendants’ lawyers demand acquittal at Baku Military Court

The proceedings against Armenian nationals at the Baku Military Court continued today, December 4, with defence lawyers for four defendants urging the judges to issue full acquittals, arguing that the charges are unsupported by evidence.

The defence attorney for the accused Davit Ishkhanyan, Agshin Mammadli, said that a verdict must be based solely on irrefutable evidence and asked the court to acquit his client, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Ishkhanyan’s second lawyer, Elchin Amirov, supported Mammadli’s position.

The lawyer for the accused Levon Balayan, Vafa Mammadli, stated that her client’s actions did not constitute a criminal offence and therefore requested an acquittal. Balayan’s second attorney, Sagi Mammadov, supported her remarks.

The defence attorney for the accused Davit Allahverdyan, Nizami Aliyev, said his client does not plead guilty to the charges. He noted that no substantial or well-founded evidence had been presented against Allahverdyan, and therefore asked the court to issue an acquittal. The second lawyer, Elmyaddin Mammadov, concurred.

The lawyer for the accused Erik Ghazaryan, Natig Mustafayev, stated that his client does not admit guilt, recalling that Ghazaryan surrendered his weapon and voluntarily turned himself in to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. He requested an acquittal for Ghazaryan.

The Armenian citizens are charged with crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including preparing and waging an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other offences.

By Khagan Isayev