Baku Military Court hears testimonies of torture from Azerbaijani former POWs

At an August 8 session of the Baku Military Court, two Azerbaijani men testified about their experiences as prisoners of war (POW) in the captivity of Armenian forces in the early 1990s.

Idris Mirzayev, captured by Armenian armed forces in April 1994 in the Tartar district, stated he was held in the Shusha prison, as well as in Aghdara and Khankendi during his captivity, Caliber.Az reports via Azertag.

During his captivity, Mirzayev was forced to work on the construction of pig and chicken farms in the village of Agbulag (Khojavend district). He recounted brutal treatment, including beatings and torture, notably having a bottle broken on his head. As a result of the injuries he sustained, his spinal column was damaged, causing him to limp.

“They were drunk, used narcotic substances, and tortured us,” Mirzayev said.

Another victim, Habib Aliyev, was captured in 1992 while serving his mandatory military duty in Lachin after being wounded in combat. Aliyev testified to suffering beatings and torture during his captivity. He also witnessed the horrifying death of a fellow prisoner who was burned alive. Aliyev was held in a basement for one year and eight months. He was released from captivity on May 8, 1995.

The trial of citizens of the Republic of Armenia, accused of committing numerous crimes as a result of Armenia's military aggression— including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing terrorism, forcibly seizing and holding power, and other numerous offenses— is ongoing.