Baku Court continues hearing gripping testimonies in Armenian citizen Vardanyan’s terrorism case

Court hearings on the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen charged with 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, continued on April 15.

The open hearings were held at the Baku Military Court and 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.

The proceedings advanced with the detailed testimonies of victims who recounted injuries and trauma suffered as a result of provocations allegedly carried out by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal armed groups during the conflict.

A victim, Elvin Mammadli, described being wounded while evacuating a fellow soldier in an ambulance clearly marked with a red crescent symbol. “Although the ambulance was visibly marked, it was struck by an anti-tank weapon,” he said.

Nizami Bakhshaliyev testified that he was hit by shelling while stationed approximately 7–8 kilometres from the front line, stating: “Their aim was to occupy land.”

Ulvi Suleymanov recalled being injured in battle while his comrade died in his arms. “One of my battle comrades became a martyr. He died right in front of me,” he said through visible emotion.

Another witness, Imran Hasanli, was wounded alongside his commanding officer during an explosion in Syrkhavand village, Aghdara district. Similarly, Tural Mammadzada testified to receiving a shrapnel wound in Aghdam during an artillery attack by illegal armed groups.

Anar Rahimli provided a harrowing account of being wounded while on civilian duty in Aghdam’s Yeddikhirman locality. “We encountered an illegal Armenian armed group. They opened fire on our vehicle. I was hit in the left arm,” he said. He further stated that their vehicle overturned as a result of the ambush, causing a fracture in his right arm: “There were no military personnel nearby at the time. When we attempted to return, we were subjected to sustained shelling — this was not intended as a warning. They were aiming to kill.”

Javid Mehdizada testified that he sustained injuries as a result of hostile provocations near the village of Abdal-Gülablı in Azerbaijan’s Aghdam district. “Two of my fellow soldiers were killed right beside me, and several others were wounded. I was injured while stationed at our defensive positions. The enemy repeatedly carried out provocations,” he recounted.

Following the victim testimonies, each of the injured parties formally petitioned the court, urging it to impose the maximum penalty on the defendant.

Subsequently, the conclusions of the forensic medical examination reports were presented to the court.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 22.

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).