“Ashot, look how it burns”: Shocking 1992 footage shown in Baku war crimes trial

At a session of the Baku Military Court on May 5, video footage related to the occupation of the Lachin district by the Armenian armed forces was presented.

The footage, filmed by Armenians on May 18, 1992, shows burning houses in the Lachin district and Armenian soldiers, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

In the video, one Armenian soldier says to another, “Ashot, look how it burns,” while pointing to one of the houses. The court then proceeded to hear testimony from victims.

Victim Jamal Mammadov stated that he is a resident of the village of Jijimli in the Lachin district, which was occupied by Armenian forces in May 1992.

Mammadov said that his father, Mehdi Mammadov, was killed by Armenian soldiers on August 12, 1989: “Russian soldiers told us that my father was killed by an Armenian named Kamo. I was 18 years old at the time.”

Another victim, Aghali Ibrahimov, said he was born in 1961 in the village of Jagazur in the Lachin district, which was captured by Armenian forces on May 18, 1992.

He noted that the village of Jagazur, located near the Armenian border, was regularly shelled from the Gorus district prior to the occupation, including from the village of Digh in that district: “Before May 8, 1992, the Armenian attacks were somewhat disorganised. But starting from May 8, the attacks were carried out under unified command. Grad and Alazan rockets, as well as long-range artillery, were used.”

Ibrahimov explained that in Jagazur he had a two-story, six-room house, a plot of land, agricultural buildings, fruit trees, large and small livestock, poultry, and other property.

As a result of the occupation, Aghali Ibrahimov suffered significant losses.

The trial in Baku continues against Armenian nationals accused of 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, violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offences.

By Khagan Isayev