Baku, Azerbaijan, April 22. The trial of
Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the
Criminal Code of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and
humanity, war crimes, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism,
and other serious crimes, continued on April 22, Trend reports.
At the open court session held at the Baku Military Court,
presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and composed of Anar Rzayev
and Jamal Ramazanov (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), the defendant
was provided with a translator in his native language, Russian, as
well as with a lawyer of his choice for his defense.
The court proceedings continued with the interrogation of the
victims. Most of them were mine victims who had undergone
amputations of limbs. The majority of the victims who testified
arrived at the court with crutches and canes.
Before the interrogation, Judge Zeynal Aghayev explained the
rights and obligations stipulated by law to the victims who were
participating in the court process for the first time.
The victim Hasanali Aliyev stated in his testimony that on
February 4, 2024, while grazing livestock in the area of the
village of Giziloba, Tartar region, he was injured as a result of
the explosion of a mine planted by Armenian soldiers: “As a result,
the lower third of my left leg was amputated.”
Another victim, Elnur Asgarov, said that on April 18, 2023,
while grazing livestock in the village of Borsunlu, Tartar region,
he was injured as a result of the explosion of a mine planted by
Armenian soldiers.
Victim Akif Huseynov stated in his testimony that after the
village of Yusifjanli in the Agdam region, where they lived, was
occupied by the Armenian armed forces, they settled in the village
of Afatli. He said that his sons Anar, Razi, and Bayram, and his
grandson Huseyn, were hit by a mine while going to inspect a field
in the liberated territories. A. Huseynov himself went to the area
after hearing about the incident. While the injured were trying to
get out of the area, another mine exploded.
Answering questions from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, A.
Huseynov said that as a result of the mine explosions, his sons
Razi and Bayram were killed, he himself and his other son Anar were
seriously injured, and his grandson Huseyn was slightly injured and
suffered severe psychological trauma. “I lost two sons in one day,”
he noted.
His neighbor, Bahruz Abdulov, who was with them at the time of
the incident, was also injured.
A. Huseynov’s son, Anar Huseynov, and his neighbor, Bahruz
Abdulov, who testified as victims, also described how the incident
happened.
The victims, Nijat Jabbarov and his relative, Rafael Bayramov,
stated in their testimonies that they were hit by a mine at the
same time in the liberated part of the Tartar region, and that
parts of their legs were amputated.
Alishan Safarov and Faig Safarov were employees of the road
maintenance department. They said that they were injured after
stepping on a mine planted on the road in Tartar.
Hikmat Abdullayev, who testified in court as a victim, said that
he was injured while performing his military service. Answering
questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, he said that
after the Patriotic War, the remnants of the Armenian army and
illegal Armenian armed groups regularly committed sabotage by
firing various types of large-caliber weapons at the liberated
sovereign territories of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Army thwarted
the enemy’s plans by preventing the sabotage.
ANAMA (Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action) employees
Yadigar Shukurov, Gahraman Rzayev, Najmaddin Huseynov, Mahir
Mustafayev, Samir Gozalov, Ali Shukurov, Farid Jabrayilli, Telman
Zeynalov, Bahruz Nasirov, and Alasgar Guliyev said that they were
hit by mines during mine clearance operations and suffered various
bodily injuries. Answering questions from the state prosecutor, A.
Guliyev said that during mine clearance, they often encountered PMN
mines, anti-tank mines, as well as “surprise mines”. Answering
questions from the Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special
Assignments, Tugay Rahimli, he said: “The most dangerous of these
mines are anti-tank and fragmentation mines. I have also seen
OZM-72 mines a lot. It is divided into fragments in the air and is
one of the most dangerous mines.”
Victim Ilham Salmanov also noted that he sustained various
degrees of bodily injury and had his leg amputated as a result of
stepping on an anti-personnel mine in the liberated territory of
the village of Ashagi Seyidahmadli, Fuzuli region.
Ilknur Aliyev said that he was injured as a result of the
explosion of a hand grenade thrown at him while preventing the
sabotage of the Armenian armed forces during military service.
Natig Mamedov, Elnur Abbaszadeh, Vusal Guliyev, Ramin Babayev,
and others noted that they were injured as a result of a mine
explosion.
The court also revealed forensic medical examination reports on
the victims.
The next hearing of the court has been scheduled for April
29.
Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under multiple articles of 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 (violations of international
humanitarian law during 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).