Baku court reviews Armenian citizen accused of war crimes, terrorism PHOTO

On October 7, court proceedings continued in the criminal case against Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, who faces charges under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and the financing of terrorism.

The hearing was held at the Baku Military Court, with Judge Zeynal Aghayev presiding alongside Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov, and Gunel Samadova serving as reserve judge, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Vardanyan was provided with a translator in Russian, his native language, as well as a legal representative of his choosing.

During the session, Judge Aghayev introduced the court panel, prosecutors, translators, and other officials to the victims and their legal heirs attending the proceedings for the first time, outlining their rights and responsibilities under Azerbaijani law.

Rayil Ganbarov, father and legal heir of victim Elmir Ganbarov, testified that his son was killed in Khojavend as a result of gunfire from remaining Armenian military forces and illegal armed groups. Similarly, Shahriyar Mammadov, brother and legal heir of Safiyar Mammadov, said his sibling was killed in Kalbajar during enemy fire.

Victim Muzaffar Jafarov stated in his testimony that he was wounded due to fire opened by the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups while evacuating the wounded in an ambulance in Lachin. Responding to questions from Nasir Bayramov, Head of the Department for the Defence of the State Prosecution of the Prosecutor’s Office, the victim said that though the ambulance had an ambulance sign, the vehicle came under fire.

Answering questions from Vusal Aliyev, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, victim Nijat Alizade stated that he was wounded in the direction of the Khojaly district due to enemy fire.

Answering questions from Tugay Rahimli, Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Tasks, victim Fuad Karimov said that he was injured in the Aghdara direction due to the enemy's provocation.

Ruslan Mammadli reported being injured in his legs, arms and other parts of his body in the Aghdara direction due to the enemy's fire. He is currently facing health problems. In response to questions from Public Prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, he said that several other people were killed and others were injured in the incident.

Answering questions from Public Prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, Murad Abbasli stated that he was injured in Kalbajar as a result of enemy fire.

Elmir Sadigov reported being injured in the Khojaly direction as a result of enemy fire.

Avaz Zeynalov stated that he was injured in the Talish village of the Aghdara district as a result of fire opened by the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Ravan Rzayev and Jamaladdin Nasirov also reported being injured as a result of enemy fire in the Shushakend village of the Khojaly district. R. Rzayev added that several other people were killed and others were wounded in the incident.

Aykhan Karimli stated that he sustained shrapnel wounds in the Khankendi direction as a result of artillery fire opened by the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups. He further noted that one person died and several others were wounded in the incident.

Vusal Isazade reported being injured in the Khalafli village of the Shusha district due to the explosion of a grenade fired by the enemy from a drone. He said that Mursal Alizade and Elman Suleymanov, standing next to him, were also injured in the incident.

Nijat Isgandarov stated that he was injured due to the provocations by the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups in Shusha.

Fuad Amirov said he was wounded in the Khalfali village of the Shusha district as a result of enemy fire.

Vurghun Sayilov reported being injured in the Shusha-Khankendi direction as a result of enemy fire.

Shukur Askarov mentioned that he was injured as a result of enemy fire while evacuating the wounded. He said even though there was a sign on the evacuation vehicle indicating that it was a medical transport, their vehicle came under fire.

Kamran Talibli reported being injured in the Aghdara direction as a result of fire from the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups, adding that several other people were also lost their lives and were injured in the incident.

Jahid Asdanov stated in his testimony that he was injured as a result of enemy fire while transporting the wounded.

Elgun Yusifli testified that he was injured in Khojavend as a result of fire from the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Answering questions from the accused R. Vardanyan, the victim said he did not know him, but that he knew him through social networks and the press.

Victim Elnur Khalilov stated in his testimony that he was wounded in both legs in Khankendi as a result of enemy fire.

Victim Khalid Hasanov testified that he was injured as a result of enemy fire in the Khojavend district, noting that the enemy fired from various weapons during the incident.

R. Vardanyan asked Kh. Hasanov a similar question whether he knew him or not. The victim stated that he knew him through the press and social media.

R. Vardanyan asked Kh. Hasanov a similar question and asked whether he knew him. The victim stated that he knew him through social media and the press.

Vugar Mammadzade mentioned that he and the people around him were injured in Khojavend as a result of enemy fire, while the other two people were killed during the incident.

Osman Jabbarli reported being injured in the Khojaly direction as a result of enemy fire.

Rovshan Azimli stated in his statement that he was injured in the Khojaly-Khankendi direction due to the enemy's provocation.

Other victims - Mirdamat Khankishiyev, Anar Asgarzada, Mursal Alizada, Jabbar Jabbarzada, Galib Mammadov, Gismat Ahmadov, Vusal Mammadov, Elsevar Gadirov, Arzuman Khankishiyev, and Mahammad Abdullayev – reported being injured in various regions of Azerbaijan due to fire opened by the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Subsequently, the forensic medical examination reports regarding the victims were announced.

The next court session is scheduled for October 14.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under 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 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an 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 Aghakazim Guliyev