Baku court continues trial of Armenian citizens facing war crimes, terrorism charges Updated

The trial continued on April 3 in the Baku Military Court, where the cases of Armenian citizens Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others are being heard.

They are accused of a range of crimes, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, the preparation and waging of aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, violent seizure of power, and other charges, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The hearing was presided over by Judge Zeynal Agayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzaev (with reserve judge Günel Samadova) on the bench. Each of the accused was provided with a translator fluent in their language, as well as defence lawyers. During the session, prosecutors questioned Davit Ishkhanyan, who held the position of "Chairman of Parliament" and other "posts" within the self-proclaimed regime.

Ishkhanyan testified that from the summer of 1992, he had served as the "commander of a battalion" within the separatist regime and participated in the war against Azerbaijan. He stated that the "army" of the separatist regime, operating in then-occupied territories of Azerbaijan, was managed by the "self-defence committee." "The leaders were Serzh Sargsyan and Samvel Babayan. However, I cannot provide details about the management mechanism," he added.

He stated that he was awarded for his involvement in fighting against Azerbaijani forces: "The Order of the Combat Cross was naturally awarded to me for my combat activities."

In response to a question from the state prosecutor: "You stated at a press conference on August 30, 2023 that you had sent open letters to the leaders of the parliaments of Russia, Iran, France, the United States, and European countries, urging them to exert pressure on Azerbaijan. What was the content of these letters? What specific pressure did you call for against Azerbaijan?" Ishkhanyan replied: "Yes, I sent such letters. But I don’t know if they reached the recipients."

Ishkhanyan also spoke about his acquaintance with Ruben Vardanyan, mentioning that Vardanyan often stayed at his hotel: "I met Vardanyan in 2010 or 2011, he liked our hotel. He held meetings there shortly before or after he became the 'State Minister.'"

Ishkhanyan noted that his birth certificate indicates he was born in the Azerbaijan SSR, but he is a citizen of Armenia: "After the collapse of the Soviet Union, I, like one of the 150,000 Armenians, took the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia. I have a passport of the Republic of Armenia. I am a citizen of Armenia."

The next court session is scheduled for April 4. During this session, the questioning of the accused will continue.

19:13

Davit Ishkhanyan, a former member of Armenia’s Dashnaktsutyun party, admitted in court on April 3, that the strategic objective behind Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan was the annexation of Karabakh to Armenia.

During his testimony at the Baku Military Court, Ishkhanyan responded to the state prosecutor’s questions, revealing his role in the conflict, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

"The ultimate strategic goal was the annexation of Karabakh to Armenia," he stated. He further explained that while he was too young to fully grasp the situation at the time, his understanding evolved as he matured.

16:57

Weapons, ammunition, and communication devices were discovered at the Park Hotel, owned by the accused Davit Ishkhanyan, following Azerbaijan’s assertion of sovereignty in October 2023.

During a hearing at the Baku Military Court on April 3, the prosecution questioned Ishkhanyan about the weapons and ammunition, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The defendant claimed that the communication devices belonged to the hotel and suggested that Armenian residents were responsible for the weapons. “I believe that a week before the incident, residents from Aghdara had moved into the hotel. It is likely that they left them behind,” he said.

14:58

On April 3, during a court hearing at the Baku Military Court, Davit Ishkhanyan, an Armenian national, revealed key details of his involvement in the First Karabakh War while responding to questions from state prosecutors. 

Ishkhanyan, who is currently facing multiple charges, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and terrorism, admitted that he served under renowned Armenian commander Monte Melkonyan, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Ishkhanyan disclosed that he fought alongside Melkonyan’s forces in several key regions during the conflict, including Aghdara, Khojavand, Kalbajar, and Aghdam. He further confirmed his leadership role, stating,

“There were eight battalions in Khojavend, and I was the commander of one of them. These battalions were part of the region’s defensive line, which was led by Monte Melkonyan, with Samvel Babayan overseeing the overall military operations.”

To recall, a total of 15 Armenian nationals are being charged with numerous crimes involving direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, its state bodies, military forces and illegal armed formations, verbal and written instructions, orders and assignments, provision of material and technical support, central governance, as well as the exercise of rigorous control, with the aim of committing military aggression and acts of terror against the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territory of Azerbaijan in violation of domestic and international law, and involving Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Mushegi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonian and others, including criminal acts committed during the course of the war of aggression waged by the aforementioned criminal group.

The said persons, i.e. Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan, are being charged under Articles 100 (planning, preparing, initiating and waging a war of aggression), 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection), 103 (genocide), 105 (extermination of the population), 106 (enslaving), 107 (deportation or forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (enforced disappearance of people), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114 (mercenary service), 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict), 118 (military robbery), 120 (intentional murder), 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing terrorism), 218 (creation of a criminal association (organization)), 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation and possession of weapons, their components, ammunition, explosives and devices), 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security), 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure), 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279 (creation of armed formations and groups not provided for by law) and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

By Aghakazim Guliyev