An open trial on the criminal case concerning the crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including waging an aggressive war, genocide, forced displacement of the population, persecution, torture, military robbery and other unlawful acts committed against the Republic of Azerbaijan and its people by the Armenian state and its Armed Forces, as well as the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" established in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its illegal armed groups was held on Friday.

This process will primarily serve to establish Armenia’s state responsibility and other illegal actions as an occupying and aggressive country through judicial means.

During the preparatory session held at the Baku Military Court in the Baku Court Complex, chaired by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and consisting of Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), the accused were provided with Armenian language interpreters and defense lawyers.

First, the interpreters were announced, and the requirements of the legislation, including their rights and duties, were explained to them. Then, the accused persons were asked if they had any objections to the interpreters, or other participants in the process.

Then, the defense attorneys for the accused persons were announced. Six prosecution employees participated as state prosecutors, and Rufat Mammadov, Head of the Cabinet of Ministers Apparatus, participated as a victim on behalf of the Azerbaijani state.

It was reported that there are more than 531,000 victims and their representatives in the criminal case.

The judge noted that the rights and duties of the accused persons were explained to them in Armenian language.

Furthermore, their rights and duties were explained again during the court session.

Then, the court announced a break in the court session.

After the adjournment, A. Harutyunyan addressed the court saying that he wanted to make a statement. The judge gave the floor to him.

In his remarks, A. Harutyunyan said that he regretted his statement regarding the shelling of Ganja with missiles during the 44-day war, adding: “There is an opinion among the Azerbaijani people that I gave this order. This decision was not made by me. Yes, I had made a statement about this incident. Now I regret this statement and apologize. I did not have such a right, such an authority, nor the opportunity to express an opinion. I have explained in my testimony during the investigation why I have made this statement.”

Finally, the court postponed the trial until January 21.

There were more than 350 people in the courtroom, along with the victims, their representatives and legal heirs.

15 persons accused in the crimes committed by Armenian state and its Armed Forces, as well as the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" established in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its illegal armed groups - Harutyunyan Arayik Vladimiri, Ghukasyan Arkadi Arshaviri, Sahakyan Bako Sahaki, Ishkhanyan Davit Rubeni, Manukyan Davit Azati, Babayan Davit Klimi, Mnatsakanyan Levon Henrikovich, Beglaryan Vasili Ivani, Ghazaryan Erik Roberti, Allahverdyan Davit Nelsoni, Stepanyan Gurgen Homerosi, Balayan Levon Romiki, Babayan Madat Arakelovich, Martirosyan Garik Grigori, and Pashayan Melikset Vladimiri have been charged as accused persons under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, or waging an aggressive war), Article 102 (attacks on internationally protected persons or organizations), Article 103 (genocide), Article 105 (extermination of population), Article 106 (slavery), Article 107 (deportation or forcible transfer of population), Article 109 (persecution), Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons through violence), Article 112 (unlawful deprivation of liberty in violation of international law), Article 113 (torture), Article 114 (mercenarism), Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of war), Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during armed conflict), Article 118 (war looting), Article 120 (premeditated murder), Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), Article 214 (terrorism), Article 214-1 (financing of terrorism), Article 218 (establishment of a criminal organization), Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of firearms, their components, ammunition, explosive substances, and devices), Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security), Article 277 (attempt on the life of a state or public figure), Article 278 (forceful seizure of power and its forcible retention, forceful alteration of the state's constitutional order), Article 279 (creation of armed groups and units not provided for by law) and other articles.

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Then, a preparatory session of the trial against Ruben Vardanyan, a citizen of Armenia accused of torture, mercenary, violating the laws or customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan was proceeded.

During the preparatory session held at the Baku Military Court in the Baku Court Complex, the questionnaire data of Ruben Vardanyan was clarified.

Ruben Vardanyan was provided with the defense attorney and the Russian language interpreter.

Zeynal Aghayev, the Presiding judge at the court session, announced the requirements of the legislation, the rights and duties of the accused person, including the right for objection, asking Vardanyan whether he had any appeals.

Ruben Vardanyan and the defense attorney, providing legal assistance, have submitted two requests.

The first request was to combine the criminal case against R. Vardanyan with the case of 15 persons of Armenian origin accused of committing severe crimes against the Azerbaijani people into one proceeding, while the second request was to give the defendant additional time to familiarize himself with the materials of the criminal case.

The state prosecutor expressed his objection to the request to combine the criminal cases in one proceeding and asked the court not to grant it, requesting the court to grant additional time to the defendant to get familiarized with the criminal case.

According to the Criminal Procedure Legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, this request was not granted by the court, since it is not envisaged to combine criminal cases into one proceeding during the court process.

Although during the preliminary investigation Ruben Vardanyan was given plenty of time to familiarize himself with the criminal case materials in a chosen language and prepare for his defense, the court, taking into account the request of the accused, made a decision to grant the request and provide him with an additional 10 days to familiarize himself with the case materials.

Moreover, the prosecution did not object to giving the accused additional time to familiarize himself with the case materials.

The preparatory court session will continue on January 27.

Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100 (planning and waging aggressive war), 107 (deportation or forcible displacement of populations), 109 (persecution), 112 (arbitrary detention in violation of international law), 113 (torture), 114 (mercenarism), 115 (violation of laws and customs of war), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing terrorism), 218 (creation of a criminal organization), 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, their components, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1 (actions threatening aviation security), 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279 (creation of illegal armed formations and groups), 318 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan), and other articles provided for by the legislation.

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