Baku: On July 10, the Military Court of Baku continued hearings on cases involving Azerbaijani citizens who suffered as a result of the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenian armed forces.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, victim Vugar Eminov recounted his harrowing experience of being taken hostage in the village of Gulluja in the Aghdam district on April 25, 1994. Eminov was detained at Shusha prison and later transferred to a special regime detention center in Khankendi, where he was subjected to severe torture, including beatings with rebar and other heavy objects, as well as electric shocks.

Eminov detailed his transfer to the village of Aghbulag in the Khojavend district, where he was forced to perform labor alongside other Azerbaijani prisoners. Despite the dire circumstances, Eminov managed to escape captivity on October 9, 1995, along with fellow hostages Gadir and Bayram, eventually reaching safety on October 22 by crossing into territory controlled by the Azerbaijani military.

Another victim, Imran Guliyev, provided testimony about the catastrophic events of the night of February 25-26, 1992, when Armenian forces launched a devastating assault on Khojaly. The attack, executed with heavy armored vehicles and weaponry, resulted in the destruction of the town. Guliyev’s brother Zakir and sister Zohra were killed during the genocide, and he sustained injuries. Despite initial resistance from Armenian forces, Guliyev was able to retrieve his sister’s body three days later, while his brother remains missing.

Court proceedings are ongoing against Armenian nationals accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, and violations of the laws of war. The charges also encompass financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and other grave offenses.