Facts related to damage to Azerbaijan's civilian infrastructure during Patriotic War examined in court

Court hearings on the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Lyova Mnatsakanyan and others, who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of a war of aggression, acts of genocide, violation of the laws and customs of warfare, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, forcible retention of power and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia's military aggression, was continued on June 2, Report informs.

The hearings held at the Baku Military Court were presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and a panel consisting of Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). Each of the accused was provided with an interpreter into the language of their choice, as well as defense attorneys.

Present at the hearings were the accused persons and their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal successors and representatives, as well as prosecutors in charge of public prosecution.

Zeynal Aghayev introduced the judicial panel, prosecutors defending the state accusation, interpreters, and so on to the victims participating in the process for the first time, and also explained their rights and duties provided by the legislation.

During the court session, the on-site inspection protocols and expert opinions regarding damage to Azerbaijan's civilian infrastructure and the killing of civilians during the 44-day war in 2020 were examined with the participation of the Chief Prosecutor's senior assistant, Vusal Aliyev.

First, documents on the facts of the shelling of the Aghjabadi district during the war were examined.

It was noted that as a result of armed attacks and military aggression launched by the Armenian armed forces from around 6 o'clock (GMT+4) on September 27, 2020, a civilian was deliberately killed in the Aghjabadi district, and 19 people received various degrees of bodily injuries. Among the injured, 5 were women and 14 were men, including 2 minors.

As a result of armed attacks and military aggression, particularly large amounts of material damage were caused to 536 civilian buildings, 17 vehicles, and 50 farms in the Aghjabadi district.

According to the documents investigated regarding the shelling of Aghdam district, from September 27 to November 10, 2020, a total of 7 civilians were deliberately killed and 46 civilians were deliberately injured in Aghdam district through unified intent, using heavy artillery installations such as T-64, T-72, T-80, T-90 type tanks, 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S1 Gvozdika and other self-propelled artillery installations, 2A36 Giatsint B, D-20, D-30, D-44, D-81 (D-81M) brand cannons, mines and grenade launchers, BM-21 (Grad), as well as other large-caliber weapons.

Particularly large material damage was caused to state property, 2098 individuals and 2 legal entities in the territory of the Aghdam district.

According to other documents, during the 44-day war, as a result of the shelling of the Beylagan district, 2 civilians were killed and 5 people received various degrees of bodily injuries. In the district, 73 civilian buildings and 3 vehicles were damaged. Of the 73 civilian buildings, 62 were private houses, 10 were business premises, and 1 was an administrative building.

Under the inspection protocols related to Barda, the district was shelled by Armenian armed forces using Grad brand 122 mm caliber G2000 and Smerch brand 300 mm caliber 9M528 multiple launch rocket systems.

As a result, from October 5 to November 7, 2020, a total of 29 civilians were deliberately killed and 112 civilians were injured in the Barda district. During these attacks, particularly large material damage was caused to state property, 333 individuals and 2 legal entities in the territory of the Barda district.

According to the documents, as a result of the shelling of the Fuzuli district, 3 peaceful civilians were deliberately killed, and a total of 17 civilians were deliberately injured.

Particularly large material damage was caused to state property and 376 individuals in the territory of the Fuzuli district.

It was announced that during the 44-day war, in Goranboy district and Naftalan city, 8 people were killed and 12 people were injured as a result of the explosion of rockets and other explosive devices fired by the Armenian armed forces.

The property of 368 people and 7 vehicles was damaged. Additionally, non-residential areas belonging to 8 more people were damaged.

Later, documents on the facts of the shelling of Mingachevir city were examined. According to the documents, it was determined that Mingachevir, Azerbaijan's 4th largest city located entirely outside the armed conflict zone at a separate geographical coordinate, as well as the Azerbaijan Thermal Power Station Limited Liability Company (LLC) located in that city, which provides the country with electricity, were deliberately targeted by the Armenian armed forces with Smerch multiple launch rocket systems with great destructive power around 22:00 (GMT+4) on October 4, 2020, and fires were opened in that direction.

It was determined that one of the Smerch rockets fell and exploded in front of the gate built in the yard of a private residence at 60 Bozdag Street in Mingachevir city, belonging to Elchin Baghirov, born in 1984.

As a result, damage was caused to the house, his Hyundai Grandeur brand car, and the Kamaz 55111 truck belonging to his relative, who was in front of the yard - Safarov Atamoglan, a resident of Evoghlu village in Aghdam district, born in 1958.

Also, Elchin Baghirov, his mother Nabat Baghirova, born in 1957, his relative Atamoghlan Safarov, as well as the owner of a neighboring private residence, Adil Ibrahimli, born in 2004, suffered bodily injuries.

It was determined that the distance from the incident site to the Azerbaijan Thermal Power Station LLC is 2,800 meters, and the distance to the Mingachevir reservoir dam is 5,300 meters.

One of the Smerch rockets fell in the empty area between the 6th and 7th energy blocks of the Azerbaijan Thermal Power Station LLC located in Azdres settlement, Mingachevir city, and penetrated the asphalt cover, embedding 40 centimeters deep into the ground, but fortunately did not explode.

The distance from where the rocket fell to the entrance door of the 6th energy block of the Azerbaijan Thermal Power Station LLC is 19 meters, and the distance to the entrance door of the 7th energy block is 29 meters.

It was also determined that the Armenian armed forces deliberately targeted Mingachevir city in the days after October 4, firing rocket shells in that direction. Thus, around 5 AM on October 11, the area where the Azerbaijan Thermal Power Station LLC is located was again targeted, and the fired rocket fell on the lawn area in the park in the yard of the LLC's administrative building. Fortunately, since the rocket did not explode, there were no casualties or injuries.

There were no military facilities in the surrounding areas where the incidents occurred.

During the incidents, 45 private houses were damaged in Mingachevir.

Later, documents regarding the targeting of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the South Caucasus Pipeline with Smerch rockets during the war (facts of rocket firing in the direction of Yevlakh district and Goran village of Goranboy district) were examined in court.

During the court session, documents were examined regarding the deaths of civilians, damage to civilian infrastructure, and citizens' property as a result of heavy artillery shelling of the Tartar region during the 44-day war.

After a break, the court heard testimonies from the victims.

Victim Parvin Gasimova said that on the morning of October 4, 2020, a rocket fired by the Armenian armed forces hit their home on Aziz Aliyev Street in Ganja city. As a result, she lost her eyesight and received injuries to her face, arms, and other parts of her body. Her mother, who was at home during the incident, was also injured.

Responding to questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, the victim said that her 3-year-old and 4-month-old daughters were at home during the incident, and her older daughter is still experiencing psychological trauma: "When an airplane passes overhead, she thinks a rocket will hit the house. She gets scared and trembles when fireworks go off."

Victim Irada Gasimova confirmed her daughter Parvin Gasimova's statements, saying she lost consciousness during the incident. She said her treatment for injuries is still ongoing.

"My older granddaughter is still living in fear. She asks, 'Will they fire rockets at our house again?' I tell her, 'Child, there's nothing to worry about anymore,'"

Irada Gasimova stated while answering questions from Tarana Mammadova, prosecutor of the department for the defense of state prosecution in the district courts of Baku.

Victim Goshgar Khalilov noted that he was recognized as the legal heir of his children, Orkhan Khalilli and Maryam Amrahli. He said that on October 17, 2020, around 01:00 a.m, when the city of Ganja was shelled with heavy artillery by the Armenian armed forces, a rocket shell fell and exploded near his house on M. Hajiyev Street, resulting in the deaths of his son Orkhan, daughter Maryam, former wife Khatira Gahramanova, and his brother's daughter Leman.

Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the department for the defense of state prosecution at the Prosecutor General's Office, Khalilov also stated that there were no military facilities in that area.

Victim Khosrov Ajdarov, responding to questions from Tugay Rahimli, special assignments assistant to the Prosecutor General, said that on October 2, 2020, around 20:00, while he was moving by car with his friend Rufat Valiyev in front of the administrative building of the Tartar District Police Department, one of the rockets fired by the Armenian armed forces fell near their car. As a result, he was injured.

Victim Shamama Guliyeva stated that on October 19, 2020, during midday hours in the Banovshalar settlement of Aghdam district, she, her daughter Maya Guliyeva, and military journalist Anar Shushali (Anar Hasanov, who worked at AZTV at that time - ed.) were injured as a result of artillery fire opened by the Armenian armed forces. Her house was also damaged during the incident.

"Do you wage war against civilians? Killing the elderly and infants is not war. Your goal was to destroy Azerbaijanis," Guliyeva said, addressing the accused persons while giving her testimony.

Answering questions from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, the victim said that at that time, there were several villages between the frontline area and the Banovshalar settlement.

After the victim's testimony, the inspection protocol regarding the shell hitting her yard was examined.

Medical examination reports concerning the victims were also announced in court.

During the court session, it was stated that the defense counsel for the accused person, Davit Ishkhanyan, could not participate in the process due to health reasons, and a new defense counsel would be appointed.

Ishkhanyan said his defense counsel was a good lawyer but did not object to the appointment of a new lawyer.

The next court hearing is scheduled for June 5.

A total of 15 Armenian nationals are being charged with numerous crimes involving direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, its state bodies, military forces and illegal armed formations, verbal and written instructions, orders and assignments, provision of material and technical support, central governance, as well as the exercise of rigorous control, with the aim of committing military aggression and acts of terror against the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territory of Azerbaijan in violation of domestic and international law, and involving Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Mushegi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan and others, including criminal acts committed during the course of the war of aggression waged by the aforementioned criminal group.

The said persons, i.e. 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, Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan, are being charged under Articles 100 (planning, preparing, initiating and waging a war of aggression), 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection), 103 (genocide), 105 (extermination of the population), 106 (enslaving), 107 (deportation or forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (enforced disappearance of people), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114 (mercenary service), 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict), 118 (military robbery), 120 (intentional murder), 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing terrorism), 218 (creation of a criminal association (organization)), 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation and possession of weapons, their components, ammunition, explosives and devices), 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security), 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure), 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279 (creation of armed formations and groups not provided for by law) and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

11:44

Court proceedings are ongoing at the Baku Judicial Complex in the criminal case against individuals of Armenian origin accused of committing war and other serious crimes.

According to Report, the trial is being presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev of the Baku Military Court.