Excavator operator recounts his trauma from shell blast in Aghdam at Ruben Vardanyan's trial Testimony at Baku court

The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, a citizen of Armenia facing multiple serious charges under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, continued today, May 6, with testimonies from victims at the Baku Military Court.

One of the victims, Mehman Hasanov, recounted his experience before the court, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

He said he had been assigned to the village of Mollalar in the Aghdam district to operate an excavator as part of road construction work. On one workday, while standing near the excavator, Hasanov heard the sound of explosions.

Seeking shelter, he ran toward a nearby wooded area. A shell landed approximately 80 meters from him, injuring him in the right knee. Hasanov was subsequently taken to the Aghdam Central District Hospital for treatment.

During the hearing, a forensic medical report concerning Hasanov’s injuries was read aloud in court.

To recall, Ruben Vardanyan is charged under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan with numerous serious crimes, including waging a war of aggression, deportation, persecution, enforced disappearances, illegal imprisonment, torture, mercenary activities, violations of the laws of war and international humanitarian law, multiple counts of intentional and attempted murder, illegal entrepreneurship, terrorism and its financing, creating a criminal group, illegal arms trafficking, threats to aviation safety, attempted seizure of power, forming illegal armed groups, and unlawful border crossing.

By Khagan Isayev