Defence calls for acquittal of Armenian defendant in Baku Military Court

The Baku Military Court continued hearings on November 27 in the criminal case involving several Armenian citizens.

According to Azertag, the session was attended by the defendants, their legal representatives, the victims and their legal successors, as well as prosecutors representing the state.

During today’s hearing, the defence lawyers delivered their statements.

Zümrüd Samadova, the lawyer representing defendant Gurgen Stepanyan, recalled that the prosecutor had requested a 16-year prison sentence for her client. She noted that Stepanyan does not admit guilt on any of the charges brought against him.

She also referred to Stepanyan’s testimony during the trial, in which he stated that he had performed compulsory military service in Hadrut in 2005–2007 and was deployed to a combat post in 2023.

Samadova said that on September 19, 2023, Stepanyan abandoned his position, fled to Khankendi and surrendered to Azerbaijani servicemen whom he encountered on the way.

“As the defence, we believe that under Article 42.1.4 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a defendant must be acquitted if there is no evidence of guilt. Therefore, I request the court to acquit the defendant in accordance with this article,” she stated.

The Armenian citizens are charged with crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes—including planning and waging aggressive war—genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other offences.

By Khagan Isayev