Baku: The decision of the Baku court regarding oligarch Ruben Vardanyan signifies the conclusion of a nearly 30-year conflict that has profoundly affected the Azerbaijani people, according to Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration. In a social media post, APA reports that Hajiyev emphasized the importance of delivering justice and the symbolic value of this court decision.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Hajiyev highlighted Azerbaijan's role in advancing a unique military-political resolution model and initiating a post-conflict peace agenda. This process has also ensured accountability for individuals accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including Bako Saakyan, Araik Harutyunyan, and Ruben Vardanyan. The timing of these court decisions, coinciding with the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, serves as a tribute to the memory of the victims of the conflict.
Hajiyev expressed disappointment that international courts or tribunals, akin to the Nuremberg Trials or the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, have not been established in the current international environment. He criticized the politicization and double standards in the application of law. As a result, Azerbaijan conducted open court proceedings through its own legal system, setting an example for the international community.
Hajiyev condemned calls from certain circles, including members of the European Parliament and organizations like Amnesty International, for the release of individuals accused of serious war crimes. He referenced President Ilham Aliyev's comparison to the Nuremberg Trials, underscoring the importance of accountability where crimes have occurred.
Hajiyev concluded by stating that exonerating individuals accused of war crimes undermines accountability and that sustainable peace and ethnic reconciliation are unattainable without justice. Azerbaijan remains committed to advancing and consolidating a regional peace agenda.