Video footage reveals David Ishkhanyan's blocking Azerbaijani forces near Shusha in 1992 Trial in Baku

At a trial in the Baku Military Court on May 1, a video was shown depicting how David Ishkhanyan blocked the road to Azerbaijani servicemen who were attempting to prevent the occupation of the city of Shusha.

The video material, prepared by the Armenian side, states that Ishkhanyan and his squad, under the orders of Monte Melkonyan, blocked the road to stop Azerbaijani soldiers who were advancing towards Khodjavend to prevent the occupation of Shusha, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The video report mentions that on May 15, 1992, the squad commander Armen Avokyan was killed in combat, and David Ishkhanyan was appointed to replace him.

Ishkhanyan stated that the facts presented in the video were inaccurate and that the video was made for propaganda purposes. According to him, the film was shot in early 2020, in the run-up to the "parliamentary and presidential elections" of the separatist regime in the former occupied territories of Azerbaijan: "The goal was propaganda. At that time, I was walking with a cane. I physically couldn’t have participated, even if I had wanted to."

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 Melkonyan 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 Khagan Isayev