Whose bodies are buried near the Asgaran fortress in Karabakh? State Commission on mass burial/PHOTO

As reported, after anti-terrorist measures in September 2023, Rashid Beglaryan was detained on suspicion of torturing captured Azerbaijanis during the First Karabakh War (1988-1994), as well as on suspicion of committing war crimes, crimes against peace and humanity.

He was brought to criminal liability under Articles 112 (Deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (Torture), 115.2 (Torture, cruel or inhumane treatment of prisoners), 279.1 (Creating armed units or groups not provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as participating in their creation and activities) and 318.1 (Crossing the guarded state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan without the specified documents or outside the state border checkpoints) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports.

When testifying, Rashid Beglaryan said that on February 26, 1992, as a member of illegal Armenian armed formations, he participated in the killing of up to 200 civilians, among whom were mostly women, children and the elderly. The bodies of those killed were buried near the Asgaran fortress.

The search operations started in this connection by the State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens in November last year were suspended due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Subsequently, the search operations near the Asgaran fortress were resumed. In the process of excavation, a mass grave was discovered containing the bodies of more than 8 people presumably killed during the Khojaly genocide.

Search and exhumation operations in the territory continue.