BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 14. Court hearings on the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Lyova Mnatsakanyan and others, who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of a war of aggression, acts of genocide, violation of the laws and customs of warfare, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, forcible retention of power and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia's military aggression, were continued on March 14, Trend reports.
The hearings held at the Baku Military Court were presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and a panel consisting of Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). Each of the accused was provided with an interpreter into the language of their choice, as well as defense attorneys.
Present at the review hearings were the accused and their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal successors and representatives, as well as prosecutors in charge of public prosecution.
During the hearings, the accused were asked questions about their functions and positions within the criminal entity, the forcible seizure of power in Karabakh, which was occupied by Armenia, including the administrative territorial division in the self-styled entity that operated under the leadership and control of Armenia, the appointments and dismissals to and from various positions, the currency in circulation, foreign and domestic banking operations, import and export of various goods, the name of which country was indicated as a place of production of goods manufactured as a result of the illegal economic activities of the self-styled entity, matters related to customs, the issuance of permits or visas to persons traveling to the territories where the so-called regime operated, what citizenship Armenian residents had, which institution issued their identity documents, the procedure for collecting funds for the “budget”, as well as the role and participation of the Armenian state, its state institutions, armed forces, and high-ranking officials in the aforementioned processes.
First, the accused Bako Sahakyan was asked questions by the prosecutors in charge of public prosecution.
Answering questions from public prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, Bako Sahakyan admitted that the so-called regime's “budget” was formed at the expense of funds received from Armenia. He said that the funds had been provided on an annual basis and added: “The ‘budget’ was formed at the expense of ‘loans’ provided by Armenia, as well as from individual incomes. In addition, a certain amount of money was collected every year and anyone from around the world could contribute to the fund.”
The accused also acknowledged that although the funds allocated by Armenia were referred to as “interest-free loans”, it was never repaid. He said, “We had not repaid a single amount sent from Armenia between 1991 and 2023, because this would have been illogical. Our personal resources were insufficient to meet our needs.”
He also admitted that products manufactured in the once occupied sovereign territories of Azerbaijan were sold to foreign countries as “made in Armenia.”
Bako Sahakyan said that during the years of occupation, Armenian citizens could purchase property in Karabakh and Armenians living in Karabakh could purchase property in Armenia in the status of citizens of that country, also enjoying other rights. He said, “Armenia was not considered a foreign country for us.”
Answering questions, he said that the “army” of the self-styled entity, which was subordinated to the Armenian armed forces, was its largest armed formation.
In response to questions from the Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Vusal Aliyev, Bako Sahakyan noted that the appointment of the “minister of defense”, “chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces” and other senior positions in the self-proclaimed republic was carried out by the president of that country based on a nomination of the Armenian Ministry of Defense. He said that he was not involved in those matters and added: “We did not hide it.”
The accused acknowledged that all division and governance matters related to the so-called “military structures” of the self-styled entity were carried out by the Republic of Armenia.
Bako Sahakyan said that weapons and ammunition were brought to the occupied territories from the Republic of Armenia.
In response to the question about how the salaries of servicemen were paid in the occupied territories, he said, “We did not have expenses related to the ‘budget’ and ‘army’. All military expenses, salaries and the provision of soldiers were allocated directly from the Armenian state budget. This had nothing to do with the ‘loans’ allocated to us.”
Answering questions from public prosecutor Fuad Musayev, Bako Sahakyan said that he did not know the exact number of servicemen in Karabakh because the “defense minister” of the self-proclaimed entity reported to the military-political leadership of Armenia, not to him. He said that nevertheless, he had learned the unofficial number of servicemen because he was on good terms with the so-called regime’s “defense minister”. “The ‘defense minister’ did not officially report to the ‘president’ of Karabakh. But we had personal contacts, which is natural. Because the ‘defense army’ was responsible for the security of Karabakh and I was supposed to know how many of us there were,” he said.
The accused then said that the plan for military exercises in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan was approved by the leadership of the Armenian armed forces.
Bako Sahakyan also answered questions from the Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Vusal Aliyev, about the deployment of “Iskander M”, “Tochka U” and other destructive weapons in the occupied territories.
He stated that the mentioned weapons had not been deployed in the occupied territories and said, “These weapons were not deployed in the territory of Karabakh. I can say for sure that during my term as ‘president’ (2007-2020) these weapons were not brought to Karabakh.”
The accused also noted, “Although the ‘head’ of ‘defense structures’ was not obliged to report to the ‘president’ of the self-styled entity, given the importance of these weapons, if they had ever been given to us, the ‘army commander’ would have informed me about it.”
When asked about the shelling of civilian facilities in Azerbaijan using the mentioned weapons and on whose instructions it was carried out, Bako Sahakyan said: “I can say that these artillery shots were not fired from the territory of Karabakh.”
Answering the questions of the Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, Tugay Rahimli, the accused Arayik Harutyunyan said that the products manufactured in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan were sold abroad through Armenia, with the words “Made in Armenia” written on them. He added, “Because Karabakh did not have the right or the capacity to ‘export’ anything. There were not too many ‘exported’ products. Only a few companies were engaged in ‘exports’. Those companies were registered in Armenia and had their branches or sister companies. Because this was the only way for ensuring certification and documentation. At the final stage, these products were exported from Armenia. Or they were sent to a company registered in Armenia and processed through that company.”
The accused said that the “banking system” of the self-proclaimed entity was controlled by the Central Bank of Armenia. Karabakh did not have a currency and a banking system of its own.
Arayik Harutyunyan said that during the period of occupation, Armenian citizens could be appointed as ministers of the so-called republic. Speaking about the financing of the regime's “army”, he said: “The financing of the ‘army’ was unequivocally provided by Armenia. The ‘army’ was financed from the budget of the Armenian Ministry of Defense. In addition, all appointments were made by high-ranking officials of the Armenian Ministry of Defense. The ‘commander’ of the ‘defense army’ was also referred to as the ‘defense minister’. When we received a confidential decision regarding an appointment, we would state that this order was supposedly issued by us. Levon Mnatsakanyan could better describe the procedure for implementing such orders. We only said that we had appointed the ‘defense minister’,” he said.
“The Karabakh army was considered a unit of the Armenian armed forces. In my opinion, decisions were made from top to bottom – from the chief of the general staff downwards. All of this was done in a confidential manner. I am not familiar with the procedures. I believe Mnatsakanyan can give a more precise answer to this. The top military figure was the chief of the general staff of Armenia, both in war and peacetime. The minister of defense also had a number of functions in Armenia. I am not sure who had what powers, but the main responsible person was the chief of the general staff. Not only weapons and ammunition, but also all supplies were carried out by the Armenian Ministry of Defense, that is, everything.”
He said he did not know the exact number of servicemen of Armenian origin in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, but most of them were Armenian servicemen.
Arayik Harutyunyan also spoke about his election as ‘president’ of the self-proclaimed republic. “I took over this ‘position’ at the end of May 2020. It was the most active phase of the coronavirus pandemic. In June, there was a joint meeting of the Security Council in Armenia. There I met with the president and prime minister of the Republic of Armenia, and we talked about the political situation, that is, the process of negotiations. I understood from the negotiations that the Armenian army was not ready for long-term combat operations. When the prime minister of the Republic of Armenia came to Karabakh at the end of August, I received him.”
Answering questions from public prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, Arayik Harutyunyan also spoke about the rocket fire on civilian infrastructure and civilians in the city of Ganja. He said that he had received information about this from the chief of the general staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Onik Gasparyan. He said, “The chief of the general staff of the Armenian Armed Forces was Onik Gasparyan. I had a conversation with the chief of the general staff. At the first stage, he informed me about the attack on the airport in Ganja. After that, I had no contact with him.”
Arayik Harutyunyan also spoke about Ruben Vardanyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia who is currently on trial in Azerbaijan. He said that he knew him very well. “I have known Ruben Vardanyan since 2005. We have met many times. The last meeting was scheduled to take place in August, September or October of 2023. He was the ‘state minister’ for two and a half to three months.
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17. The hearing will continue with questions to be asked of the accused.
We recall that 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.
