BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 6. On February 6, court hearings began on criminal cases against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan and others, as well as Ruben Vardanyan, accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws of war, as well as terrorism, financing terrorism, violent seizure of power, retention of power and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia's aggression, Trend reports.
At the court hearing held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, and with the participation of Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev in the Baku Military Court, located in the Baku Judicial Complex, the accused were provided with interpreters in Armenian and Russian, as well as lawyers.
The court hearing was attended by the victims, their legal successors and representatives, prosecutors defending the state prosecution, as well as the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers Rufat Mammadov on behalf of the Azerbaijani state as a victim.
At the beginning of the trial on the criminal case, in which 15 persons of Armenian origin are accused of crimes committed by the state of Armenia and its armed forces, as well as the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" created by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and its illegal armed formations, the accused Arayik Harutyunyan asked the court to make an address. The judge allowed the accused to voice his address.
During his speech, A. Harutyunyan called the accusations spread in the Armenian media about psychological pressure on the persons accused in the criminal case under consideration and the use of psychotropic drugs against them false.
"In the detention center, we had the opportunity to receive information and express protest. Also, the conditions of our detention are constantly discussed in the Armenian media and other media. As far as I understand, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia states that psychological pressure is exerted on us, and psychotropic drugs are also used," he said.
A. Harutyunyan added that he is familiar with the law on detention conditions.
"All laws are observed in the detention center, the International Committee of the Red Cross periodically visits us. We have the opportunity to make phone calls to our family members. In the detention center, our attitude is ensured in accordance with the law, and we are treated within the framework of the law. Our rights were ensured by the investigators and during the investigation. Lawyers always participated in the investigation. I would especially like to note that there was no pressure on us. During the investigation, we were always treated within the framework of the law. Thank you," he said.
Then the accused Davit Babayan addressed the court and asked to speak.
The court granted D. Babayan's request. The accused stated that he was satisfied with the conditions of detention, that no pressure was exerted on him or the other accused.
"On my own behalf, I want to say that there was no pressure on us here. We are treated with respect every time, and if someone else were in our place, let them ask themselves how they would have behaved. We have the courage to tell the truth. The truth knows no bounds. And the conditions of detention here are also very good," he said.
Then the prosecutor defending the state prosecution addressed the participants of the court with an opening speech, emphasizing the historical significance of the current trial.
"This trial is being conducted in the name of establishing justice. The evidence in the criminal case, based on historical facts, shows that the crimes committed were not isolated random events, they were carefully planned at the highest level and committed with cruelty and ruthlessness. During the trial, it will become clear that the investigated crimes were committed as a result of political, military, material and other support from the Armenian state, instructions and orders from the military-political leadership of Armenia. This trial is also of great historical significance in terms of preventing the repetition of such horrific crimes," the prosecutor said.
Then the prosecutors began to read out the final part of the indictment.
Referring to the indictment, it was noted that with the direct participation, directions and instructions of the Armenian state and its armed forces, logistical and personnel support, on the basis of centralized management, as well as under strict control, a criminal organization was created under the leadership and with the direct and indirect participation of Kocharyan Robert Sedraki, Sargsyan Serzh Azati, Manukyan Vazgen Mikaeli, Sargsyan Vazgen Zaveni, Babayan Samvel Andraniki, Balasanyan Vitaly Mikaeli, Balayan Zori Ayka, Ohanyan Seyran Musheghi, Garamyan Arshavir Surenovich, Melkonyan Monte Charles and others with the aim of committing military aggression against Azerbaijan on the territory of Azerbaijan in violation of domestic and international law. Then it was announced what role the accused Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan and others played in the creation and activities of this criminal organization.
The court hearing will continue on February 7.
Based on the collected credible evidence, 15 individuals have been charged for crimes committed by the armed forces of Armenia and illegal armed formations in a total of 2,548 incidents. The accused are Arkady Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Davit Manukyan, Garik Martirosyan, Melikset Pashayan, Davit Allahverdyan, Gurgen Stepanyan, Levon Balayan, Madat Babayan, Vasili Beglaryan, and Erik Ghazaryan. They face charges under several articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, based on the periods of their involvement in criminal acts.
The charges include crimes such as planning, preparation, initiation, or waging an aggressive war (Article 100); attacks on internationally protected persons or institutions (Article 102); genocide (Article 103); destruction of population (Article 105); slavery (Article 106); deportation or forcible transfer of population (Article 107); persecution (Article 109); forcible detention (Article 110); deprivation of liberty contrary to international law (Article 112); use of torture (Article 113); mercenarism (Article 114); violations of laws or customs of war (Article 115); violations of international humanitarian law during armed conflict (Article 116); war theft (Article 118); willful killing (Article 120); illegal entrepreneurship (Article 192); terrorism (Article 214); financing of terrorism (Article 214-1); organization of a criminal association (Article 218); illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices (Article 228); acts threatening aviation security (Article 270-1); attempts on the life of a statesman or public figure (Article 277); violent seizure or retention of power, violent change of the constitutional order (Article 278); and the creation of unauthorized armed formations or groups (Article 279), among other offenses.
During the trial of the case against Ruben Vardanyan, his lawyer Avraam Berman spoke out, petitioning for the creation of conditions for a confidential meeting with his client. The judge granted the petition and allowed the accused to have a confidential meeting with his lawyer.
In connection with this, a break was announced at the hearing.
After the break, the court session resumed, and after hearing the positions of the prosecution and defense, the judge announced the beginning of the trial.
The prosecutor began to announce the final part of the charges.
According to the indictment, the accused Ruben Vardanyan joined a criminal organization created for the purpose of committing serious and especially serious crimes, led this organization and acted in accordance with the general criminal goals and intentions of the organization.
At the same time, the prosecutor, referring to the indictment, stated that the criminal organization headed by Kocharyan Robert Sedraki, Sargsyan Serzh Azati, Babayan Samvel Andraniki, Balasanyan Vitaly Mikaeli, Balayan Zori Ayki, Ohanyan Seyran Musheghi, Melkonyan Monte Charles and others, with the direct participation, directions and instructions, logistical and personnel support of Armenia and its armed forces, under its centralized management and strict control, unleashed a systematic and large-scale aggressive war against the Republic of Azerbaijan.
It was stated that, given the large volume of the indictment, the announcement of the indictment will continue during the next trial.
The next court hearing is scheduled for February 10.
Ruben Vardanyan is charged with committing acts under Article 100 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (planning, preparing, initiating, or waging an aggressive war), Article 107 (deportation or forcible transfer of population), Article 109 (persecution), Article 112 (unlawful deprivation of liberty in violation of international law), Article 113 (torture), Article 114 (mercenarism), Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of war), Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during armed conflict), Article 214 (terrorism), Article 214-1 (financing of terrorism), Article 218 (establishment of a criminal organization), Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of firearms, their components, ammunition, explosive substances, and devices), Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security), Article 278 (forceful seizure of power and its forcible retention, forceful alteration of the state's constitutional order), Article 279 (creation of armed groups and units not provided for by law), 318 (illegal crossing of the state border of Azerbaijan).
