BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 12. The open court
hearing regarding the criminal cases of citizens of the Republic of
Armenia—Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit
Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others—accused
of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the
preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violation
of war laws and customs, terrorism, financing of terrorism,
forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes
resulting from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan,
continued on September 12, Trend reports.
The trial, held at the Baku Military Court under the
chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov
and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that all
accused persons were provided with translators in their preferred
language and defense lawyers.
The session was attended by the accused, their defense
attorneys, some of the victims, their legal heirs and
representatives, as well as prosecutors defending the state’s
charges.
The court hearing continued with the examination of documents.
It was mentioned that the court will study the documents on a
case-by-case basis.
The court proceedings will continue on September 15.
Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the
criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the
aggressive war waged by the Armenian state – including the
aforementioned criminal association – on the territory of
Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms.
These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression
against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership
and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state
institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations,
through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and
guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized
management; as well as under strict control and under the
leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki
Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen
Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli
Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir
Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others.
The following individuals – 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 the following
articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of
aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations
enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article
105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement);
Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population);
Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of
persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to
international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary
service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of
warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law
during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120
(intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship);
Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism);
Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228
(illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and
possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices);
Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277
(assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278
(forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the
constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of
armed groups not provided for by law); and additional articles.
