Baku, Azerbaijan, April 4. As reported, court hearings on the criminal case
against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan,
Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan,
Lyova Mnatsakanyan, and others, who are accused of committing
crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the
preparation and conduct of a war of aggression, acts of genocide,
violation of the laws and customs of warfare, as well as terrorism,
financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, forcible
retention of power, and numerous other crimes as a result of
Armenia’s military aggression, continued on April 4, Trend reports.
The hearings held at the Baku Military Court were presided over
by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and a panel consisting of Jamal Ramazanov
and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). Each of the accused
was provided with an interpreter in the language of their choice,
as well as defense attorneys.
Present at the review hearings were the accused and their
defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal successors and
representatives, as well as prosecutors in charge of public
prosecution.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 7. The proceedings will
be continued with questions to be asked of the accused.
A total of 15 Armenian nationals are being charged with numerous
crimes involving the direct leadership and participation of the
Armenian state, its state bodies, military forces, and illegal
armed formations, verbal and written instructions, orders and
assignments, provision of material and technical support, central
governance, as well as the exercise of rigorous control, with the
aim of committing military aggression and acts of terror against
the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territory of Azerbaijan in
violation of domestic and international law. These crimes involve
Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli
Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali
Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Mushegi Ohanyan,
Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others,
including criminal acts committed during the course of the war of
aggression waged by the aforementioned criminal group.
The said persons – Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi
Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan,
David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich
Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit
Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki
Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and
Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan – are being charged under Articles 100
(planning, preparing, initiating and waging a war of aggression),
102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international
protection), 103 (genocide), 105 (extermination of the population),
106 (enslaving), 107 (deportation or forced displacement of the
population), 109 (persecution), 110 (enforced disappearance of
people), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international
law), 113 (torture), 114 (mercenary service), 115 (violation of the
laws and customs of warfare), 116 (violation of international
humanitarian law during armed conflict), 118 (military robbery),
120 (intentional murder), 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214
(terrorism), 214-1 (financing terrorism), 218 (creation of a
criminal association (organization)), 228 (illegal acquisition,
transfer, sale, storage, transportation and possession of weapons,
their components, ammunition, explosives and devices), 270-1 (acts
threatening aviation security), 277 (assassination of a state
official or public figure), 278 (forcible seizure and retention of
power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the
state), 279 (creation of armed formations and groups not provided
for by law), and other articles of the Criminal Code of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.