Baku: The open court hearing in the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, a citizen of Armenia charged under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other serious offenses, will continue on February 17, the Baku Military Court told APA.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, at the court session held on February 10, it was announced that the judicial investigation had been completed and that the panel of judges had retired to deliberate.
Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1 and 100.2, which pertain to planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression. Additional charges include deportation or forcible displacement of the population, persecution, forcible disappearance of persons, deprivation of liberty contrary to international law, torture, mercenary activity, and various violations of the laws and customs of warfare and international humanitarian law.
The list of charges also includes intentional murder, attempted intentional murder, illegal entrepreneurship, terrorism, financing of terrorism, creation of a criminal group, illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices, acts threatening aviation safety, forcible seizure or retention of power, or forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state, creation of armed formations not provided for by law, and illegal crossing of the state border.
On February 5, an open court hearing continued regarding the criminal cases of other Armenian citizens, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan, who are accused of similar crimes. These include crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes committed as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan.
The final court decision for the defendants in that trial, which began on January 17 last year and lasted for more than a year, was announced on February 5 of this year.