Investigation into crimes committed by Karabakh separatist in progress Azerbaijani Prosecutor General says

Following the local anti-terrorist activities conducted in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on September 19-20, 2023, the investigation of Armenian separatist leaders detained by special services is continuing.

Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev made the statement in an interview with Mirshahin Agayev, head of Real TV, per Report.

"Many state institutions are involved in the investigation team. The reason is that the separatists have committed many crimes. The act committed by each of them is being specified. We are analysing and investigating all the crimes committed since 1987. We have recorded them all," the Prosecutor General said.

Aliyev noted that shortly they will face criminal charges, and their cases will be submitted to court: "International organisations and a group of countries will witness a transparent, comprehensive and objective trial".

Azerbaijan detained former separatist leaders - "ex-presidents" of separatists Karabakh clan, Arayik Harutyunyan (2020-2023), Arkady Ghukasyan (1997-2007) and Bako Sahakyan (2007-2020), "representative in Karabakh" of the Dashnaktsutyun party, ex-chairman of the "parliament" of the separatist regime, David Ishkhanyan on October 3, 2023.

Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian tycoon who fueled separatism financially and politically, was the first criminal junta member detained by the servicemen of Azerbaijan’s border service on September 27.

During the 44-day Armenia-Azerbaijan war in 2020, Yerevan-born Vardanyan was in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan talking about his financial support to the separatist regime in the Azerbaijani territory. Later in September 2022, he moved illegally to Karabakh after renouncing his Russian citizenship.

The suspects have been charged with Articles 214.2.1, 214.2.2, 214.2.3 (terrorism using firearms, explosives and devices by an organized group repeatedly), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 214-3.2 (organizing training for the purpose of terrorism), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, storage, transportation and possession of firearms, their complete parts, ammunition, explosives and devices by an organized group in multiple occasions) and 279.3 (creating armed units and groups not provided for by legislation and participating in their activities) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.