Baku court hears testimonies, forensic evidence in Vardanyan's war crimes trial PHOTO

On August 26, the trial continued in the criminal case against Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, who is charged under articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan with crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, as well as other serious offences.

At the open hearing of the Baku Military Court, presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev with Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (reserve judge – Gunel Samadova), the accused was provided with an interpreter in the language he knows—Russian—as well as a defence lawyer of his own choosing, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Before the questioning began, Judge Zeynal Aghayev explained to the victims and legal successors of the victims, who were taking part in the trial for the first time, their rights and obligations under the law.

Then, the court heard testimonies from the victims and their legal successors.

The legal successor of the victim Gasim Mammadhasanov—his father, Bilal Mammadhasanov—testified that his son was killed in Khojaly as a result of shelling by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed formations.

In response to a question from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, the legal successor of victim Rizvan Ahmadov—his mother, Makka Ahmadova—noted that her son was killed in the city of Khojaly as a result of enemy shelling.

The legal successor of victim Tural Seyidov—his mother, Farida Seyidova—stated that her son was killed in Khojaly while driving a KamAZ truck, which hit a mine planted by the enemy.

Answering questions from the Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, Tugay Rahimli, the legal successor of victim Ramin Huseynov—his mother, Gulbaniz Amiraslanova—testified that her son was killed in Aghdara as a result of a provocation carried out by remnants of the Armenian army and Armenian illegal armed formations.

The legal successor of victim Azer Mammadov —his father, Mustafa Neymatov—stated that his son was killed in Zangilan as a result of an enemy sniper shot.

Answering questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, the legal successor of victim Mamed Mardanov—his father, Aladdin Mardanov—testified that his son was killed after detonating an anti-tank mine.

The legal successor of victim Ilham Shamshiyev—Shahmar Shamshiyev—stated that his brother was killed in Aghdara as a result of an enemy provocation.

In response to a question from Nasir Bayramov, Head of the Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office for the Support of Public Prosecution, the legal successor of victim Ali Taghiyev—Said Taghizada—emphasized that his brother was killed in Aghdam as a result of a sniper shot fired by remnants of the Armenian army and Armenian illegal armed formations.

The legal successor of victim Mirzaali Mirzazade—Kamran Mirzoyev—said that his son was killed in Aghdara as a result of an enemy provocation.

The legal successor of victim Safar Suleymanov—his father, Nail Suleymanli—testified that his son was killed in Khankendi as a result of an enemy provocation.

The legal successor of victim Royal Beydiev—his father, Nasib Beydiev—answering questions from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Vusal Aliyev, testified that his son was killed in Khojavend as a result of a provocation carried out by remnants of the Armenian army and Armenian illegal armed formations.

The legal successor of victim Kanan Aghayev—his father, Vahid Aghayev—stated in his testimony that his son was killed in Khojavend by a sniper shot during an enemy provocation.

Responding to questions from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadov, the legal successor of victim Vusal Shakhriyarov—his father, Tabiyat Shakhriyarov—testified that his son was killed in Khojaly as a result of a provocation carried out by remnants of the Armenian army and Armenian illegal armed formations.

Victim Vurgun Gulmammadov testified that during an enemy provocation in the Aghdara district, he sustained a gunshot wound to the hip as a result of a sniper shot.

Ahlam Mammadov stated that in Lachin district, as a result of the explosion of an artillery shell fired by the enemy, Omar Shirinov was killed, while the victim himself, along with Faig Jafarov and several others, sustained various bodily injuries.

Victim Royal Mammadov stated that in the village of Janyatag in the Aghdara district he was wounded as a result of the explosion of an artillery shell fired by remnants of the Armenian army and Armenian illegal armed formations. At the moment of the incident, Emin Garayev was killed.

In his testimony, Sabutay Aghabaghirov said that in the Aghdara district, as a result of an enemy artillery shell explosion, he and his companions—Ali Heydarov, Samir Karimov, Shamkhal Gasimov, Jeyhun Abbasov, Tural Guliyev, Iskandar Huseynov, and Alizamin Ismayilov—were injured.

Victim Ulvi Hasanov testified that he sustained a gunshot wound to the left ventricle as a result of enemy fire in the Aghdam direction. He added that at that time Royal Mammadov and Murad Eyyubov were killed.

Ehtiram Allahyarov stated that he was wounded as a result of fire opened by remnants of the Armenian army and Armenian illegal armed formations in the Khojaly district. According to him, during this provocation, Ramil Rzayev and Sergey Heybatov were killed.

Victim Ali Jafarli emphasised that while returning from the Aghdara district to Aghdam, he sustained shrapnel injuries to various parts of his body and a traumatic brain injury as a result of artillery shelling by the enemy.

Elshan Zarbaliyev testified that in the village of Papravand in the Aghdam district, his car was struck by enemy artillery fire. He noted that he was injured as a result of this incident.

Vusal Latifov stated that as a result of an enemy provocation in the Aghdara district, Emin Abbaszada and Ulvi Mikayilov were killed, while he himself was wounded.

Victim Sarhan Kerimli noted that in the liberated Jabrayil district, he was injured by the explosion of a mine planted by the enemy.

In his testimony, Avazagha Abdullazada said that between the Aghdara district and Khankendi, in the direction of the village of Narynjlar, he was wounded by the explosion of an F-1 hand grenade thrown by the enemy. The victim added that at that moment, eight more people were injured.

Victims Vatan Verdiyev, Ilkin Ibrahimov, Shamkhal Gasimov, Emin Jafarov, Vaseh Eyvazov, Amrah Aliyev, Shaig Yediyarov, and Shirkhan Mustafayev testified that they were wounded in the Aghdara direction as a result of enemy provocations.

Ramil Allahyarov, Samir Mirzozayev, Elvin Mammadov, Ravan Shafizada, and Imran Bayramov emphasised that they were injured in the Kalbajar direction as a result of enemy shelling.

Other victims—Vasif Mammadov, Rustam Ismayilov, Toghrul Najizada, Altay Ahadov, Rajabali Mirzazada, Rashad Khudulov, Eltaj Khalilov, Elkhan Mammadzada, Parvin Safarov, and Sahib Baghirov—testified that they were wounded in the Khojaly direction as a result of enemy shelling.

In his testimony, Eldar Abbasov stated that as a result of a shell dropped from an enemy drone in Khankendi, Seymur Shabiyev, who was nearby, was killed. The victim himself, as well as Gismet Shukurov, Vurgun Sayilov, Vusal Huseynov, and Nasimi Alekperov, were wounded.

Victim Gahraman Ismayilov testified that their location in Khojavend was first struck by a rocket and then subjected to fire from other types of weapons. As a result, he was wounded in various parts of his body, while Vusal Rustamov, Elvin Aliyev, and Alibay Alibayov were killed.

Rufat Salimov noted that in the area of Asgaran settlement in Khojaly district, he and his comrade Azad Allahverdiyev were wounded as a result of enemy shelling by remnants of the Armenian army and Armenian illegal armed formations.

Victim Jeyhun Asgarov testified that while in the Aghdara district, he and a field medic, Yasin Gulu-zada, were injured by the explosion of a large-calibre shell fired at an ambulance by the enemy.

Tair Zeynalov, Elsevar Karimov, and Gismat Shukurov were wounded as a result of enemy fire in the Khankendi direction; Khazar Bandaliyev and Dunyamin Azizov—in the Khojavend direction; Samir Zamanov, Abulfaz Malikov, Ali Babayev, Parvin Ahmadli, Zakir Jabrayilov, and Taleh Zeynalov—in the Aghdam direction.

Other victims—Siruz Galalli, Umud Aliyev, Neymat Asgarov, Kamran Muradov, Famil Huseynov, Alim Gulmaliyev, Vugar Yusifov, Ilyas Sadigov, Rovshan Jafarov, and Etibar Abasguliyev—testified that they were wounded as a result of enemy provocations.

The court session then heard the conclusions of forensic medical examinations conducted on the victims.

The next court hearing is scheduled for September 2.

For the record, Ruben Vardanyan is accused of planning, preparing, and waging aggressive war; deportation and forced displacement of civilians; persecution; enforced disappearances; unlawful detention; torture; mercenarism; violating the laws and customs of war; breaching international humanitarian law during armed conflicts; premeditated murder and attempted murder; illegal entrepreneurship; terrorism and financing of terrorism; organizing a criminal community; illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives, or explosive devices; acts endangering aviation security; violent seizure or retention of power and unconstitutional changes; creating unauthorized armed formations or groups; and illegal crossing of Azerbaijan’s state border.

By Khagan Isayev