Baku, Azerbaijan, April 22. Court hearings on
the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen
charged with torture, mercenary activity, violations of the laws
and customs of warfare, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and
other crimes under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
continued on April 22 with testimonies from victims, Trend reports.
One of the victims, Hasanali Aliyev, testified that on February
4, 2024, he stepped on a landmine planted by Armenians while
grazing animals in his backyard. “As a result, I had one-third of
my left leg amputated,” he said.
The session continued with the questioning of other victims, all
of whom were landmine survivors who had undergone partial leg
amputations.
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).