Baku, Azerbaijan, May 6. 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 May 6, 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.
Before testimony began, Judge Zeynal Agayev explained the legal
rights and responsibilities of the victims attending the session
for the first time and introduced them to the court personnel,
including interpreters, clerks, and prosecutors.
Avraam Berman, Vardanyan’s defense lawyer, then raised an
objection to the judicial panel, citing a review of the February 6,
2025, session transcript. The defense argued that the transcript’s
failure to reflect their motions raised concerns about the panel’s
objectivity and impartiality. Vardanyan supported his lawyer’s
objection.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev responded that
while the defense had the right to comment on the accuracy of the
session records, an omission in the transcript was not grounds for
challenging the entire judicial panel. He accused the defense of
using similar objections to unnecessarily prolong the trial. Aliyev
requested the court to dismiss the objection.
The victims present at the session also requested that the
objection be denied.
The court recessed for deliberation.
Upon return, the court announced its decision to dismiss the
defense’s objection. Judge Agayev stated that the defense had
failed to provide concrete evidence of the panel’s bias, as
required by the Azerbaijani Criminal Procedure Code.
The court then heard testimony from victims of the alleged
crimes.
The court also reviewed the medical examination reports for each
of the victims.
The next session is scheduled for May 13.
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).
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