Baku: The ongoing trial at the Baku Military Court has confirmed that Armenian armed forces looted residential areas following the occupation of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territories during the First Karabakh War. During the hearing, the accused, Melikset Pashayan, responded to questions from Tarana Mammadova, a prosecutor in the Baku district courts. He stated that he had served in the 31st Battalion of the Asgaran district. According to him, between 1993 and 1994, he was stationed at posts near the villages of Suma, Sarijali, and Gulluja in the Aghdam district.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Pashayan confessed to participating in the First Karabakh War as a member of a rifle battalion armed with grenade launchers, mortars, machine guns, automatic weapons, and grenades. When questioned about involvement in looting after the occupation, Pashayan denied personal participation, stating, “I did not participate in the looting. By the time my shift at the post ended, there was nothing left to loot anyway.”

Pashayan further claimed that the looting was conducted by Armenian civilians rather than soldiers. He asserted that the military had issued warnings to civilians to avoid the area due to the risk of bullets and shells, aiming to protect them from harm.

The court also heard Pashayan’s revelation about receiving a “Medal for Courage” from the so-called regime for his involvement in the First Karabakh War. He was uncertain about the exact timing, suggesting it occurred during either Bako Sahakyan’s or Arayik Harutyunyan’s leadership.

The trial forms part of broader legal proceedings against Armenian nationals accused of crimes against peace and humanity. These charges include war crimes, acts of terrorism, planning and waging aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, forcible seizure and retention of power, and financing of terrorism, among other offenses linked to Armenia’s military aggression.