Armenian national Vardanyan challenges court panel composition in ongoing Azerbaijan trial

Armenian national Ruben Vardanyan, facing serious charges including torture, mercenary activity, violation of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, challenged the impartiality of the judicial panel during his ongoing trial at the Baku Military Court.

The open hearings were presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and a panel of judges consisting of Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in the language of his choice, i.e. Russian, as well as lawyers for his defense, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

At the trial, Vardanyan and his lawyer, Avraham Berman, raised objections to the composition of the judicial panel. Berman argued that several motions filed by the defense in earlier sessions had been rejected without consideration, and that the defense team had not been afforded sufficient time to review the court minutes in detail. The defense lawyer further contended that the judges involved in the trial appeared to be biased in favor of criminal prosecution.

In response, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Vusal Aliyev, reminded the court that the issues raised by the defense had already been addressed in previous hearings. Aliyev emphasized that the defense had been granted ample opportunity to review the necessary court materials, including the minutes of past sessions. He asserted that the defense's claims of bias were unfounded, stating that the failure to satisfy certain motions could not be interpreted as evidence of judicial partiality.

Victims involved in the case also voiced their opposition to the protest, urging the court to reject the defense's objections.

After deliberating, the court issued its ruling, stating that the defense's protest was dismissed. The court reasoned that the defense had failed to present any compelling evidence demonstrating that the judicial panel had any vested interest in the criminal prosecution. As a result, the trial proceeded without any changes to the composition of the court panel.

Several victims then provided testimony regarding their experiences during the conflict.

One of them, Nurlan Baghirov, recounted an attack he and his fellow soldiers endured while serving in the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Bagirov explained that they were ambushed by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian military formations. He stated that his unit was subjected to gunfire and grenade attacks. As a result of the assault, 14 of his comrades, including 12 servicemen from the Internal Troops and two from the Ministry of Defence, were killed, and several others, including Baghirov himself, sustained injuries.

Another victim, Tajaddin Karimov, shared his experience of being injured by a mine explosion while on duty near Talish village in Aghdara district. Karimov explained that he and his fellow soldiers were engaged in demining activities to clear a road in the recently liberated territory. While defusing a mine, an explosion occurred, causing him to be wounded. Karimov emphasized that the mines in the area, which had been discovered over the past few years, were produced in Armenia. He also noted that while his comrades were nearby, they were not injured in the explosion. He mentioned that, in total, his team had successfully defused 59 mines in the region.

Other victims, who had been injured as a result of actions attributed to the Armenian forces, also took the stand during the session.

The next court hearing is scheduled for May 6.

To recall, Ruben Vardanyan is charged with crimes under 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 during 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, their components, 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 or groups not provided for by law) and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).

By Vafa Guliyeva