BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 24. Vagif Khachatryan and his brother participated in the Meshali massacre in Azerbaijan’s Khojaly district, Elman Alishov, a victim of the Meshali events said, Trend reports.
He spoke at the trial of Vagif Khachatryan, accused of committing genocide in Meshali village in Khojaly district.
According to Alishov, his 78-year-old mother was shot dead by an Armenian sniper during the attack on the village.
"Vagif Khachatryan was personally involved in the attack. I saw him several times. Armenians surrounded Novruz's house and murdered him. I watched him get whacked with an axe," the victim added.
The rapporteur on the criminal case is Judge Jamal Ramazanov.
In past trials, a court investigation was initiated, the prosecutor announced the indictment. Then the accused and victims of the case were questioned in court.
Armenian citizen Vagif Khachatryan, who is on the international wanted list in connection with the Meshali genocide, was detained at the Lachin border checkpoint in July this year.
In December 1991, the criminal group, which included Khachatryan, killed 25 Azerbaijanis, wounded 14 people, and expelled 358 Azerbaijanis from their legal place of residence in Meshali village.
In connection with the emergence of sufficient grounded suspicions, a decision was made to bring Vagif Khachatryan as an accused under Articles 103 (genocide) and 107 (deportation or forced resettlement of the population) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
A measure of restraint in the form of detention was chosen against him.
About 59 people were recognized as victims in the criminal case.