Baku, October 24, 2025 — The Europe Today: The Baku Military Court on Wednesday continued the open hearing on the criminal cases against several citizens of the Republic of Armenia — including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others — accused of committing war crimes, crimes against peace and humanity, genocide, terrorism, and other grave offences during Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.
The trial, presided over by Judge Zeynal Agayev with judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev, and reserve judge Gunel Samadova, was held at the Baku Military Court. All defendants were provided with interpreters and legal defense in accordance with procedural law.
The session was attended by the accused, their lawyers, state prosecutors, and several victims and their legal representatives. Judge Agayev noted that 82 victims had requested their absence to be excused for valid reasons, asking that their previously recorded testimonies be reviewed in court. The defense raised no objections, and the court proceeded to hear their statements.
Victim testimonies described acts of severe torture, execution, and inhumane treatment committed by Armenian armed forces and police personnel during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories in the early 1990s.
- Azad Tahirov recounted being beaten with a rifle butt by an Armenian officer named Maxim, who also forced captives to play a deadly “roulette” game, killing fellow prisoner Tagi Bayramov.
- Talib Tagiyev testified that he and others were tortured after being captured near the Jabrayil district in 1991, identifying several of his interrogators.
- Ilham Agayev stated that after being captured wounded in 1994, he was held and tortured in Garadaghly and later transferred to Shusha and Khojavend, where dozens of Azerbaijani captives were detained.
- Vahid Rahimov described being beaten and held with his wife after the occupation of Khanlyg village in Gubadly.
- Niyyat Ahmadov testified about the massacre in Kalbajar’s Bashlibel village, where multiple members of his family were killed as they hid in a cave.
- Khojaly survivors including Atraba Aliyeva, Arif Azizov, and Fikrat Valiyev provided harrowing accounts of mass killings and hostage-taking during the February 1992 genocide in Khojaly.
The court also reviewed testimonies of other victims who were subjected to forced displacement, arbitrary detention, and physical abuse during captivity.
The hearing emphasized that the defendants — all former high-ranking officials and military commanders — are charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including:
- Article 100 (planning and waging a war of aggression),
- Article 103 (genocide),
- Articles 105–116 (crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law),
- Article 214–214.1 (terrorism and financing terrorism),
- Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power), among others.
According to the prosecution, these crimes were orchestrated and carried out under the direct leadership and participation of senior Armenian officials and military figures, including Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Vazgen Sargsyan, Samvel Babayan, Vitali Balasanyan, and others.
The trial aims to establish accountability for atrocities committed during Armenia’s armed aggression against Azerbaijan and violations of international humanitarian law.
The proceedings will continue on October 24, with further examination of evidence and additional victim testimonies.
