The trial of persons of Armenian origin accused of committing war crimes will continue today.
AZTV.AZ that during the proceedings held at the Baku Court Complex under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev of the Baku Military Court, they are accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including aggressive warfare, genocide, forced displacement, persecution, torture, military looting, and other illegal acts committed against Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people by the Armenian state and its armed forces, including the self-proclaimed "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" established in Azerbaijan's occupied territories and its illegal armed formations.
The hearing will be held in the criminal case against defendants Arkadi Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Davit Manukyan, Garik Martirosyan, Melikset Pashayan, Davit Allahverdyan, Gurgen Stepanyan, Levon Balayan, Madat Babayan, Vasili Beglaryan, and Erik Gazaryan.
Today, decisions will be announced regarding the motions submitted in the previous proceeding. Later, the issue of whether the case will be submitted for the court hearing will be discussed.
In the previous proceeding, except for Arayik Harutyunyan, other accused persons had requested to change their detention measure to house arrest.
The victims and prosecutors defending the state prosecution asked the court not to grant the motion and not to change the detention measure chosen for the accused persons.
The court announced a recess in the proceeding to make a decision regarding the motions.
Today, the preliminary hearing of the court process will continue for Ruben Vardanyan, who is accused of violating the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other charges.
The process will continue at the Baku Court Complex in the new administrative building of the Baku Military Court with the same composition of judges.
Although Vardanyan was given sufficient time during the preliminary investigation to review the case materials in a language he understands and prepare his defense, the court granted his request for an additional 10 days to review the case materials. The prosecution did not object to providing the accused additional time to review the case materials.
Ruben Vardanyan has been charged with committing acts under Article 100 (planning, preparation, initiating or waging aggressive war), 107 (deportation or forced relocation of population), 109 (persecution), 112 (deprivation of liberty in violation of international law), 113 (use of torture), 114 (mercenary activities), 115 (violation of laws and customs of war), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Additionally, he is charged with committing acts under Article 218 (organizing a criminal community (criminal organization)), 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons, their components, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices), 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security), 278 (forcible seizure of power or forcible retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional order of the state), 279 (creation of armed formations or groups not provided for by legislation), 318 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan) and other articles of this code.