Baku court examines interview of former Armenian deputy defence minister As evidence of occupation

The trial at the Baku Military Court involving Armenian citizens continued on September 25 with the examination of a press interview given by former Armenian Deputy Defence Minister Manvel Grigoryan as evidence.

In the interview, Grigoryan detailed the involvement of former Armenian presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories. He revealed that Armenia sent high-ranking military officers, including generals and colonels, to establish military units in the occupied areas, naming one general, Artusha, who came from Gyumri, Caliber.Az reports per local media. 

Grigoryan acknowledged the killing of Azerbaijanis and the plundering of villages.

"We began capturing Turkish villages. We invaded the villages, destroyed and annihilated them. We were menacing them [Azerbaijanis], we were terrorizing them,” he said. 

He further noted that as a brigade commander in the Armenian armed forces, he was summoned to Armenia and subsequently sent back to the occupied Azerbaijani territories by order of Defence Minister Vazgen Manukyan. He confirmed that they occupied 47 villages in the Fuzuli district of Azerbaijan.

The court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, violations of the laws of war, financing terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses.