Baku: Court hearings on the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen charged with multiple serious offenses, continued on March 18. Vardanyan faces charges of torture, mercenary activity, violation of the laws and customs of warfare, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other offenses under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as reported by APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the hearings were held openly at the Baku Military Court, with Judge Zeynal Aghayev presiding alongside a panel of judges including Anar Rzayev and reserve judge Jamal Ramazanov. An interpreter was provided to Vardanyan in Russian, along with legal representation for his defense.

During the proceedings, Vardanyan’s defense attorney, Avraam Berman, requested that the court allow access to the hearing minutes and accompanying audio recordings. The prosecution did not oppose this motion, and Judge Aghayev granted the request, ensuring that the accused and his attorney could review the materials.

The court session included the questioning of victims, who were informed of their rights and obligations by Judge Aghayev. Victims, including Rahib Fataliyev, Sakhavat Rajabov, and others, testified that they suffered bodily injuries from gunfire and grenade explosions during military service in the Kalbajar and Khojaly districts of Azerbaijan. They identified Vardanyan through media reports and demanded the harshest punishment for him.

Subsequently, the victims provided details to prosecutors regarding their military service locations, areas of provocation, and the nature of their injuries. The forensic medical examination results of victims from the March 11 hearings were also presented.

The trial is set to continue with the next hearing scheduled for April 1. Vardanyan faces a wide array of charges, including war crimes, terrorism, illegal entrepreneurship, and other serious offenses, under numerous articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code.