Victim: ‘14 of my fellow soldiers martyred during attack by Armenian armed groups’

On April 29, a court hearing under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan is being held for the case of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, who is accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, as well as terrorism, financing terrorism, and other serious crimes, Report informs.

The trial is continued with the questioning of the victims.

One of the victims, Nurlan Baghirov, stated that while serving in the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, he and his fellow soldiers were attacked by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups.

According to Baghirov, during the incident they were fired upon and hand grenades were thrown at them. As a result, 14 of his fellow soldiers (12 from the Internal Troops and 2 from the Ministry of Defense) were martyred, and some of the soldiers were wounded. Baghirov added that he was also wounded during the incident.

The results of the forensic medical examination conducted on the victim were also announced during the court hearing.

Ruben Vardanyan has been charged with committing crimes under several articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, including:

• Article 100 – Planning, preparation, initiation, or conduct of an aggressive war
• Article 107 – Deportation or forced displacement of the population
• Article 109 – Persecution
• Article 112 – Unlawful deprivation of liberty in violation of international law
• Article 113 – Use of torture
• Article 114 – Mercenarism
• Article 115 – Violation of the laws and customs of war
• Article 116 – Violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts
• Article 214 – Terrorism
• Article 214-1 – Financing of terrorism

Additionally, Vardanyan is accused of offenses under:

• Article 218 – Organization of a criminal association (criminal organization)
• Article 228 – Illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or possession of weapons, ammunition, explosive substances, and explosive devices
• Article 270-1 – Acts threatening aviation security
• Article 278 – Violent seizure or retention of power, violent change of the constitutional order of the state
• Article 279 – Creation of armed formations or groups not provided for by law
• Article 318 – Illegal crossing of Azerbaijan’s state border

Vardanyan also faces additional charges under other articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code.