The open court proceedings against citizens of the Republic of Armenia–including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanian, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others – accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, as well as multiple charges including the planning and waging of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, terrorist financing, forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other offenses committed during Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, resumed on December 23, Report informs via AZERTAC.
The hearing was held at the Baku Military Court, chaired by Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova also present). Each accused person was provided with an interpreter in their preferred language and legal counsel for their defense.
The hearing was attended by the accused, their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal successors and representatives, as well as prosecutors presenting the state's case.
Presiding Judge Agayev announced that the court session would continue with the final statements from the accused.
During the hearing, the accused Levon Mnatsakanyan continued delivering his final statement.
He expressed views contrary to those presented by the prosecution and the victims regarding the April 2016 battles, mercenaries, and other issues. Mnatsakanyan stated that although he had been charged with planning the April battles, this accusation was unfounded. He claimed that during the April battles, all operations were conducted independently by the so-called "defense districts" and "divisions" of the self-proclaimed regime and were managed by these units themselves.
Addressing the alleged damage to civilian infrastructure during the April battles, Mnatsakanyan asserted that civilian targets were never deliberately attacked and that only military objectives were engaged.
He also claimed that the weapons used by the so-called "defense army" (the largest formation of Armenian armed forces–Ed.) were sourced from Armenia's own armed forces.
Former commander of an artillery brigade, Mnatsakanyan also addressed accusations of causing damage to forests and destruction of historical monuments as a result of artillery fire. He rejected these charges as well, arguing that monuments could have been damaged by various other weapons, not necessarily artillery. He enumerated those weapons: "In addition to artillery, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, mortars, hand grenades, and other weapons were also used."
Regarding the Tunnell and Bashlibel incidents (the Tunnell and Bashlibel massacres–Ed.), Mnatsakanyan stated he did not participate in these events, explaining that at the time he was undergoing medical treatment and physiotherapy due to injuries. He added: "At that time, the central defense district's artillery units were still in the process of formation."
The court proceedings are scheduled to resume on December 25.
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.
The trial in the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia continued at the Baku Military Court with the final statements from the accused, on December 23, Report informs via AZERTAC.
The hearings proceeded with the final statement from accused Levon Mnatsakanyan.
The accused presented his counterarguments in response to the statements from state prosecution and victims regarding the April Battles of 2016, mercenaries, and other items.
Court proceedings continue against the Armenian nationals, who face charges related to Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, violations of the laws and customs of war, financing terrorism, and the violent seizure and retention of power, among other serious offenses.