Baku: An open court hearing regarding the criminal cases of citizens of the Republic of Armenia continued at the Baku Military Court with the announcement of documents, APA reports. The hearing focused on the events that transpired between 1988 and 1991 in the Karkijahan settlement of Khankendi city, where mass riots led to the destruction of Azerbaijani residents’ homes.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, one of the announced documents included the testimonies of suspects and witnesses detailing the events. Sargsyan Georgiy Isakovich, interrogated as a suspect, testified that from September 18-20, 1988, Azerbaijani homes were destroyed and set on fire by Armenians, leading to the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Khankendi.

Another document revealed that G. Sargsyan’s group included individuals named Arkas, Shahin, Razmik, the Balayan brothers, and others. Witness Safarov Shahverdi Bahlul oglu testified that from 1988 onwards, Azerbaijani homes in Karkijahan were raided, allegedly orchestrated by an Armenian named Jora.

Khachaturyan Aleksandr, another witness, stated that since February 1988, individuals such as Araksi and others incited animosity between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Armed forces led by Sargsyan Jora were reported to have organized the displacement of Azerbaijanis from Karabakh.

Victim Abuzarov Avaz Ali oglu testified about the killings and injuries sustained during attacks on Karkijahan in 1990 and 1991. Armenians were accused of using firearms to kill and injure several Azerbaijani residents, including Rzayev Tapdig Kochari oglu, Safarov Aghali Aydin oglu, and others.

The court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals accused of serious crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and terrorism. Other charges involve financing terrorism and the violent seizure and retention of power.