Baku July 19, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Baku Military Court on Thursday continued the open trial proceedings in the high-profile criminal case against several citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others. The accused stand charged with multiple crimes committed during Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, genocide, terrorism, and forcible seizure and retention of power.
The hearing, presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), was held at the Baku Military Court. The court ensured full compliance with legal procedures, including the provision of interpreters and legal counsel for all defendants. The session was attended by the accused, their legal representatives, victims and their families or representatives, and state prosecutors.
During the session, the court heard the testimonies of multiple victims of acts allegedly committed by the accused and remnants of illegal Armenian armed groups. Victim Orkhan Najafov stated that he was injured by artillery fire in Aghdam on September 19, 2023, during counter-terror operations. He testified that his fellow soldiers, Isa Isayev, Ismayil Khanaliyev, Mikayil Hamidli, and Sakit Aslanov, were also wounded.
Another victim, Barzani Atayev, recounted that while evacuating the wounded as a paramedic in the Aghdara district on the same day, he was injured by a mortar shell despite medical signs being visible on the vehicle.
Victim Ragif Aliyev testified that he was injured by mortar fire on September 20 during similar operations, which resulted in several injuries and one fatality. Responding to questions from defendant David Manukyan, Aliyev affirmed that the goal of the attackers appeared to be the annihilation of Azerbaijani nationals.
Victim Karam Mammadov shared a detailed account of being captured by Armenian forces on March 7, 1990, while working to restore communication lines near the Zangilan and Gafan districts. He and his colleagues were beaten and tortured while in custody, suffering severe bodily harm, before being freed by Soviet soldiers. Their vehicle was confiscated during the ordeal.
Other testimonies included:
- Jeyhun Aliyev, injured by mortar fire in Janyatag;
- Emin Shahbazov, injured alongside Senior Lt. Eshgin Babazada by an anti-tank missile in Aghdara;
- Hilal Hasanov, injured by enemy fire that also killed two fellow servicemen;
- Farid Zeynalov, injured during a missile attack on a medical evacuation vehicle;
- Ravan Sharifzada, wounded near Vang village;
- Nasib Alakbarov, injured in Dashkasan in 2022 during an Armenian provocation;
- Imran Bayramov, wounded by a grenade in the Kalbajar-Aghdara area;
- Famil Mammadov, injured in Vang during an ambush that killed Ilham Shamsiyev;
- Elshan Ibrahimli and Tural Mammadov, both injured in Aghdam during anti-terror operations.
All victims responded to questions posed by the accused, their legal teams, and state prosecutors.
The prosecution alleges that these crimes were part of a broader campaign of military aggression against Azerbaijan, carried out under the direction of senior Armenian officials, military personnel, and leaders of illegal armed groups. These acts were reportedly supported by written and verbal orders, technical assistance, and material support from figures such as Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Samvel Babayan, and others.
A total of fifteen Armenian-origin defendants are charged under multiple provisions of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including but not limited to:
- Article 100 (aggressive war),
- Article 103 (genocide),
- Article 105 (extermination),
- Article 109 (persecution),
- Article 113 (torture),
- Article 214 (terrorism),
- Article 214-1 (financing terrorism),
- Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power), and
- Article 279 (creation of illegal armed groups).
The trial is scheduled to resume on July 21, with further testimonies and cross-examinations expected as the court deliberates on one of the most consequential criminal cases in Azerbaijan’s post-conflict judicial proceedings.
