Baku: The open court hearing concerning criminal cases against several citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasyan, and others, continued at the Baku Military Court under Judge Zeynal Aghayev’s leadership.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the accused face charges of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and other severe allegations resulting from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.
The trial ensured that all accused individuals were equipped with translators and defense lawyers. The session saw the presence of the accused, their attorneys, victims, their legal representatives, and state prosecutors. The court proceedings included the announcement of documents related to the criminal cases in question.
One of the key documents revealed episodes of bodily harm inflicted on civilians and property damage during the April 2016 battles. The document highlighted that from April 2 to 28, 2016, Armenian armed forces engaged in criminal acts without military necessity. They heavily shelled undefended settlements in various Azerbaijani districts, including Aghdam and Terter, targeting civilian structures such as educational and medical institutions.
The court also reviewed evidence of the shelling of Eskipara village in Terter with a white phosphorus artillery projectile, the murder of Chingiz Salman oghlu Gurbanov and Huseyn Zakir oghlu Akberli, and other crimes committed in the occupied territories. Another document detailed the deaths of Allahverdiyeva Sahiba Idris gizi and her granddaughter in the Fuzuli district due to shelling by Armenian forces in 2017.
Further documents examined during the trial included the shelling of Aliyev Yusif Musa oglu’s house in Tartar, the murder of Major General Polad Hashimov, and other crimes during the Tovuz battles. Additionally, the court reviewed evidence of mine explosions resulting in the deaths of several Azerbaijani citizens.
The court proceedings are set to continue on October 2. Fifteen Armenian-origin defendants are accused of multiple crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by Armenia against Azerbaijan. These crimes were orchestrated under the leadership and participation of the Armenian state and its officials, with direct involvement of figures such as Robert Sedraki Kocharyan and Serzh Azati Sargsyan.
The accused individuals face charges under various articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including planning and waging a war of aggression, genocide, terrorism, and numerous other offenses.