Baku court hears graphic accounts of war crimes as Vardanyan trial presses on PHOTO

The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian national charged with grave offenses including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and financing terrorism under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, proceeded on May 13 at the Baku Military Court.

The session was presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov forming the judicial panel, and Judge Gunel Samedova acting as an alternate. To uphold due process, the court ensured that Vardanyan was provided with an interpreter in his native Russian language and was represented by legal counsel of his choosing, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

At the outset, Judge Aghayev informed the victims attending for the first time of their legal rights and obligations, introducing the court’s composition, legal clerks, interpreters, and other parties involved in the proceedings.

During the session, Ruben Vardanyan raised an objection to the composition of the judicial panel, a motion supported by his defense attorney, Avraam Berman. In response, State Prosecutor Tarana Mammadova argued that all procedural rights of the defendant had been observed, and noted that no credible evidence had been presented to suggest any partiality or vested interest by the judges in the outcome of the case. She requested that the court dismiss the objection without consideration.

The victims present also urged the court to reject the motion. After a brief adjournment to deliberate, the panel ruled to dismiss the defense’s objection, citing the absence of “concrete and reliable evidence,” as required by the Criminal Procedure Code of Azerbaijan, that could indicate bias or conflict of interest on the part of the judges.

Following the ruling, the court heard the victim testimonies. Emil Mehdiyev recounted suffering injuries in Aghdara district when a mortar shell, fired by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal armed groups, detonated nearby during efforts to repel a large-scale subversive attack. He identified others wounded in the same incident, including Ismail Gambarov and Amin Maharramov.

Mayis Koroghluyev testified that he and Gahraman Ismayilov were injured in Aghdam when a “Fagot” missile exploded in their vicinity, while Asim Garayev recounted being wounded by mortar fire in Aghdara. He added that five of his comrades — Mehdi Abbasov, David Jalilov, Javad Maharramov, Ali Taghiyev, and Rasul Teymurov — were killed in the blast.

The court also reviewed forensic medical reports detailing the injuries sustained by the victims.

The next hearing in the trial is scheduled for May 20.

Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including 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 (violations 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, 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 not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).

By Vafa Guliyeva