Baku trial hears testimony on humanitarian violations during Shusha occupation

During ongoing proceedings at the Baku Military Court, Sabir Guliyev, a resident of the Shushinsky village of Goytala and victim of the Shusha occupation, testified on August 25 about the severe hardships faced by civilians during the conflict.

Guliyev recounted that in early May 1992, the city of Shusha was occupied by Armenian armed forces, forcing him and many others to become displaced, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He reported that no humanitarian corridors were provided to the civilian population during the occupation. According to his testimony, while attempting to escape through Lachin, civilians came under artillery fire originating from the direction of Gorus, resulting in casualties, including the death of an elderly woman.

He also shared the personal losses he suffered, including the deaths of his cousins, Tair and Rafael Guliyev, noting that the body of Tair Guliyev has yet to be found. After the liberation of the occupied lands, Guliyev visited his father’s grave and discovered it had been destroyed, along with several other graves stripped of their tombstones.

Guliyev further detailed how the occupying forces seized their property and destroyed villages, leaving residents unable to recognize their own homes. He described the state of the land as devastated and barren following the occupation.

The trial currently underway is against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, accused of a range of serious crimes stemming from Armenia’s military aggression. Charges include war crimes, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, among others.

By Sabina Mammadli