Baku court hears tales of slaughter, devastation from 1993 conflict

Survivors of Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijan’s Zangilan district recounted killings and destruction in court on August 15, as a high-profile war crimes trial continued in Baku.

Lala Ismayilova told the court she was forced to flee the Zangilan district as a result of the occupation, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Her brother, along with six other police officers, was killed by Armenian armed forces, and their bodies have never been recovered, she said.

Another witness, Bikakhanum Guliyeva, testified that her native village of Orta Yemazli was seized in 1993, and her four-room house was set on fire.

She said her brother, Ilham Imamgulu oglu Guliyev, was killed alongside Ismayilova’s brother.

In response to questions from the defence lawyer for defendant Bako Saakyan, Guliyeva said the attack was launched from Armenia’s Gafan district.

The Baku court is trying Armenian nationals accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparing and waging aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, and the violent seizure and retention of power, among other charges.

By Aghakazim Guliyev