Trial of Ruben Vardanyan resumes: Victims testify in Baku Military Court

The trial of Armenian national Ruben Vardanyan resumed in Azerbaijan on August 5. He faces charges including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other serious offenses under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.

The open court hearing was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov also presiding (reserve judge Gunel Samedova). The defendant was provided with a translator so he could speak in his preferred language, Russian, as well as a lawyer of his own choosing for his defence, Caliber.Az reports via Azertag. 

Before the questioning, Judge Zeynal Aghayev explained the rights and responsibilities provided by law to the victims and the legal successors of the victims who were participating in the court proceedings for the first time.

In court, the legal representative of victim Shamistan Sadiqov – his father Abdulagha Sadiqov – stated that his son was killed as a result of gunfire opened by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Responding to questions from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, the legal representative of victim Vusal Malikov – his father Bakhtiyar Malikov – said that his son was killed in Lachin as a result of gunfire opened by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Responding to questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of a department at the Prosecutor General's Office in charge of supporting the public prosecution, the legal representative of victim Javad Maharramov – his father Sadiq Maharramov – stated that his son was killed in the Aghdara direction as a result of gunfire opened by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

The legal representative of victim Eltun Yunusov – his father Javanshir Yunusov – noted that his son was killed by enemy fire in Khojevand.

Victim Mammad Gahibov told the court that he was injured when a shell fired by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal armed groups exploded. He was responding to questions from Tugay Rahimli, Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments. Three others – Rahib Shikhiyev, Elmin Eyvazov, and Shahrat Gasimov – were also wounded in the same incident.

Ali Heydarov testified that he and Sabutay Aghabaghirov were injured when an enemy shell exploded near them in Aghdam.

Victim Farid Aslanov told state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev that he was injured in Khojaly by gunfire from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal armed groups.

Jamal Hamidov told Deputy Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev that he was wounded by a mortar shell explosion caused by the enemy in Lachin.

Habil Ganbarov stated in his testimony that he was injured as a result of a mortar shell explosion in the Khojavend district. Responding to questions from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, the victim noted that Murad Mustafayev, who was with him at the time, was also injured.

Afiq Suleymanov said he was a victim of Armenia’s mine terror. In his statement, he explained that he was injured by the explosion of a mine planted by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Suleyman Garayev stated in his testimony that he was wounded by gunfire opened by the Armenian forces in the Lachin district.

Victim Kanan Akhmadov stated in his testimony that he was injured in the Aghdam district when a mine exploded while he was traveling by car. He noted that Afar Huseynov, Yusif Abdullayev, Rashad Haziyev, and Adam Aliyev, who were in the same vehicle, also sustained various injuries as a result of the incident.

Victim Rashad Haziyev confirmed what Kanan Akhmadov had said earlier, stating that he was injured during the incident and that the vehicle was rendered unusable.

Shahriyar Zarbaliyev said he was wounded by enemy gunfire in Khojaly. He added that Emil Nabiyev and Rovshan Azimli also suffered various bodily injuries at that time.

Later, Abdulla Hajiyev and Sadiq Hamidov testified that they were injured by gunfire from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups in Aghdara and Aghdam, respectively.

The next court hearing is scheduled for August 12.

Ruben Vardanyan is charged under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the following articles: 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparation, initiation, and conduct of an aggressive war); 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population); 109 (persecution); 110 (forcible disappearance of persons); 112 (illegal deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); 113 (torture); 114.1 (mercenarism); 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of war); 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law during an armed conflict); 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional homicide); 29,120.2.1, 29,120.2.3, 29,120.2.4, 29,120.2.7, 29,120.2.11, 29,120.2.12 (attempted intentional homicide); 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship); 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism); 214-1 (financing of terrorism); 218.1, 218.2 (formation of a criminal organization); 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, possession, carrying, and transportation of firearms, their components, ammunition, explosives, and devices); 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation security); 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional order of the state); 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of unauthorized armed groups or formations as provided by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).