Baku: The trial in the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia continued at the Baku Military Court. During the hearing, the parties were provided with the opportunity to exercise their right to reply.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Vusal Aliyev, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, highlighted the part of the criminal case concerning the disputed roles of the defendants within the criminal organization. He recalled that, according to the defense, the objective of the criminal organization is to commit unlawful acts based on international criminal law practices. The prosecutor emphasized that the evidence examined during the trial confirmed that several years before the start of the First Garabagh War, the mentioned criminal groups had already begun to form.

Aliyev stated that the examined evidence confirmed that these groups were supported and armed by the Armenian leadership. He noted that the leaders and members of those armed groups held significant political and military positions both in the regime established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and in Armenia. These groups eventually became integral parts of the criminal army that occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Regarding the defendants, Aliyev mentioned that David Manukyan was a member of the Shusha Battalion, while Davit Ishkhanyan served as commander of the ’28th Martuni’ Battalion. He described these and other battalions as reorganized, more structured, and militarized versions of the previously mentioned illegal groups.

The court proceedings continue against the Armenian nationals, who face charges related to Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, violations of the laws and customs of war, financing terrorism, and the violent seizure and retention of power, among other serious offenses.