Baku: Open court proceedings continued at the Baku Military Court concerning charges against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, and others, accused of severe crimes during Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, such as war crimes and genocide.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the trial, presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, ensured legal representation and translators for the accused. The panel, including Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev, facilitated the testimonies of victims who suffered during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories. These testimonies included accounts of torture, hostage situations, and loss of property, providing a harrowing narrative of events that transpired during the conflict.
Guloghlan Amirkhanov, a resident of Garadaghli village, testified about his capture and 65-day torture by Armenian forces, while Elshan Shirinov recounted the brutal treatment and mass killings he witnessed. Ali Ismayilov provided details of displacement and the Khojaly genocide, where his relatives perished. Other witnesses, like Elkhan Jabbarov and Kamil Bayramov, narrated the violence inflicted on civilians, including the burning of Khojaly and targeted attacks on aid convoys.
Testimonies further revealed the widespread impact on Azerbaijani communities, with Ramiz Gahramanov recounting the attack on Jamilli village and the ensuing displacement of 591 people. Dargah Hagverdiyev highlighted ethnic discrimination and the destruction of Karkijahan, while Sirajaddin Mardaliyev described his parents’ capture during the Khojaly genocide. Other victims, like Shukur Shukurov and Iman Guliyev, detailed prolonged captivity and torture.
The court proceedings also introduced the results of forensic medical examinations of the victims, offering further evidence of the atrocities committed. The trial, involving fifteen defendants, is set to continue, addressing numerous charges under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, including war crimes, genocide, and terrorism.
The accused are charged with offenses that include planning and waging aggressive war, genocide, and forcible seizure of power, under the leadership of figures like Robert Sedraki Kocharyan and Serzh Azati Sargsyan. The trial underscores the extensive impact of the conflict on Azerbaijani civilians and seeks accountability for the crimes committed during this period of aggression.