BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 4. The criminal case
against Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, charged under articles of
the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code related to crimes
against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of
terrorism, and other serious offenses, continued on November 4,
Trend
reports.
The open court session at Baku Military Court—presided by Judge
Zeynal Agayev, with Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (reserve
Judge Gunel Samadova)—provided the accused with an interpreter in
his native language, Russian, and state-funded legal
representation.
Judge Zeynal Agayev introduced the court panel, state
prosecutors, interpreters, and others to the victims participating
for the first time and their legal heirs or representatives,
explaining their rights and obligations as stipulated by
legislation.
Subsequently, Emil Babishov, the new lawyer defending Ruben
Vardanyan’s rights, submitted a motion to the court.
He noted that in previous sessions, Vardanyan and his
then-lawyer had filed several motions. The full extracts of the
court’s decisions on those motions had not been provided to the
defense. The lawyer requested that the full extracts be delivered
to the defense side.
It should be recalled that in the previous session, a new
state-appointed lawyer was assigned to Ruben Vardanyan. Until then,
his rights were defended by a lawyer of his own choice. Two
sessions prior, Vardanyan had waived his chosen lawyer.
Judge Zeynal Agayev stated that the extracts in question had
already been provided to the defense and that they could continue
to exercise this right.
Ruben Vardanyan then submitted another motion, requesting the
summoning of a representative from the State Border Service to the
court session. He explained that this relates to one of the charges
against him—illegal crossing of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s state
border.
Vardanyan’s defense lawyer, Emil Babishov, also supported the
accused’s position and motion, requesting its satisfaction.
Addressing the motion, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor
General Vusal Aliyev stated that the defense’s motion did not
clearly indicate who should be summoned and for what reason, what
testimony that person could provide in the witness phase, and its
relevance to the charges against the accused. He added that there
is no need for statements from State Border Service employees
regarding illegal border crossing in the current proceedings.
Vusal Aliyev stated that if the accused claims to have crossed
the Republic of Azerbaijan’s state border legally—contrary to the
charge—and wishes to prove it, there are procedures provided by
law. If the accused entered Azerbaijani territory legally, his
civilian passport should bear the stamp of the State Border
Service. He can prove this by presenting the stamp in his
passport.
Vusal Aliyev requested that the motion not be granted.
After hearing the parties, the court issued a decision: the
motion was left without consideration.
Judge Zeynal Agayev also noted that if information about the
individual is provided in accordance with the law, the matter can
be discussed.
The judge then announced that a group of recognized victims had
submitted applications to the court, stating that due to valid
reasons they could not attend the proceedings and confirming their
preliminary investigation testimonies.
The parties raised no objections to the announcement of these
testimonies in court.
Subsequently, victims who suffered from Armenia’s aggressive war
and occupation policy gave statements.
Responding to questions from state prosecutor Terane Mammadova,
victim Sagif Mikayilov said he was injured due to provocations by
remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups in
the direction of Asgaran settlement, Khojaly district.
Victim Aydin Garibov stated that in Khalfali village, Shusha
district, he, Ceyhun Shahnamazli, and Tarlan Jabbarov were wounded
by enemy fire.
Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, Head of the Department
for Defense of State Prosecution at the Prosecutor General’s
Office, victim Kenan Abilov said he received a bullet wound to his
left arm from enemy small arms fire on an unnamed height in
Khankendi district.
Victim Yusif Veysov stated that in Chanagchi village, Khojaly
district, he suffered shrapnel wounds to the kneecap when a mortar
shell fired by remnants of Armenian armed forces and illegal groups
exploded nearby.
Victim Rahib Mammadov, answering questions from state prosecutor
Fuad Musayev, said that in Zangezur district, due to an enemy hand
grenade explosion, Farid Mehbaliyev and Tabriz Rahimov were killed,
while he, Ibrahim Mayilli, Seymur Hasanov, and several others whose
names he does not currently recall were injured.
Togrul Najafli emphasized that in Zangezur district, due to
enemy provocation, he and several others were injured, while Farid
Rustamov, Farid Mehbaliyev, and Tabriz Rahimov were killed.
Answering questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev,
victim Faiq Jafarov noted that in Lachin district, due to an enemy
mortar shell explosion, he and several others were injured, while
several more were killed.
Victim Emin Mammadov, responding to questions from Senior
Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, said that in
Lachin district, due to an enemy hand grenade explosion, Ali Aliyev
was killed, while he, Tural Aghjabayov, Gabil Mammadov, and several
others whose names he does not recall suffered various bodily
injuries.
Ramazan Mahammadov stated that in Khojavend district, due to an
enemy artillery shell exploding nearby, he and several others were
injured.
Victims Seyran Eminov, Vuqar Mammadov, Tural Bagirov, Narmaddin
Guliyev, Ali Rustamov, Ahmad Ibrahimov, Tural Imamguliyev, Saleh
Ismayilov, Asif Mammadov, Ariz Hashimov, Vidadi Khaniyev, and Nazir
Gulaliyev reported being injured due to enemy provocations in
Kalbajar district.
Gulu Guliyev, Boyukaga Hasanov, and Sakhavat Guliyev stated they
were injured in Lachin district; Seymur Hasanov, Asif Mammadov, and
Ugur Shukurlu in Zangezur district due to enemy provocations.
Subsequently, Ibad Ismayilov, Ilkin Rahimov, and Elmir
Beydullayev stated they were injured in Khojavend district; Aykhan
Abdullayev near Isa Spring in Shusha city; Gunduz Gurbanov in
Khalfali village, Shusha district; Rafael Salimov in Aghdam
district; and Hijran Sultanov in Aghdara district due to
provocations by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal armed
groups.
Documents from the criminal case materials collected during the
preliminary investigation were also announced in court, and
evidence was examined.
The next court session is scheduled for November 18.
Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2
(planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression),
107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109
(persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112
(deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113
(torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws
and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11,
116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law
norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4,
120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1,
29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12
(attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship),
214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of
terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3
(illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and
possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices),
270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1
(forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the
constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3
(creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2
(illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of
Azerbaijan).
Trend notes that the preliminary investigation into the case,
which involves charges of crimes against peace and humanity, war
crimes, terrorism, and terrorism financing, was conducted by the
State Security Service of Azerbaijan.
