Armenian war crimes confession in Russian documentary sparks call for justice

Last July, Russian filmmakers Yulia Vishnevetskaya and Renato Serrano released a documentary titled “Broken Country”, which explores Armenia’s experience of defeat during the 44-day war. While the broader narrative of Armenia's struggles may not be of primary concern to many, certain elements within the film warrant attention from Azerbaijani authorities and the international community, particularly regarding potential war crimes.

The documentary includes a disturbing confession from an Armenian individual who claims, “from the age of 14, I cut the throats of Azerbaijanis.” This revelation, aired over a year ago, brings to light serious allegations of war crimes that are subject to international scrutiny and do not fall under any statute of limitations.

Despite the passage of time, the content of this film highlights the need for further investigation into these grave accusations, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of addressing war crimes from the recent conflict.

At the 6-minute mark of the documentary, one of the film's subjects, who chose to remain faceless, recounted that at the age of 14 during the First Karabakh War, he participated in combat and engaged in acts of violence, stating, “I cut their throats like this.” This admission constitutes a clear breach of the laws of war and suggests criminal responsibility. Although the individual intended to conceal his identity, our investigation has revealed that he is Kocharyan Harutyun Hamletovich, born in 1971.

The following content is even more disturbing. At the 7-minute mark, Ruzanna Hovhannisovna Poghosyan, born in 1974, shares that her young son, an Armenian, also aspires to join the fight. She candidly expresses to the camera, and with a disturbing sense of pride says:

“Samvelik, like his father, will also go to war. He wants to go himself. 

He says: 'Father, give me a knife, I will go and cut the heads of the Turks.' He wants to do it himself, and he won’t even blink an eye."

This footage starkly illustrates the intense animosity Armenians harbor towards Azerbaijanis, revealing a readiness to commit acts of extreme violence solely based on ethnic identity. It demonstrates a disturbing willingness among some Armenians to engage in brutal actions against Azerbaijanis.

In response, we urge the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan to initiate criminal proceedings against Harutyun Kocharyan for his war crimes committed on Azerbaijani territory and to issue an international arrest warrant for him. It is crucial to ensure that those who target Azerbaijanis face justice and are held accountable.

Regarding Ruzanna Poghosyan, if her animosity towards Azerbaijanis overrides her maternal instincts, it is a matter of grave concern. We can only express our dismay and remind her that there is no place for individuals who come to our land with intentions of war, and that such individuals will face consequences.