Video featuring former president of Armenia's thoughts on purpose of occupying Azerbaijan's sovereign territories shown in trial

During the ongoing trial at the Baku Military Court on May 19, a video of the former president of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrosyan's speech at a meeting with members of the Yerkrapa terrorist organization on July 23, 1993, was presented, Report informs.

In the footage, Levon Ter-Petrosyan talks about the intention, purpose, and reasons for the occupation of Azerbaijan's sovereign territories by the Armenian armed forces.

The video material shows that Ter-Petrosyan, expressing satisfaction for celebrating historical "victories," recalled that there were 170,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia until 1988: "Some people criticize, saying 'What was the point of starting the 'Karabakh' movement? During these five years, how much blood was shed, how many people died, but no results were achieved.' Even the Armenian government at that time... Now, opposition representatives and other parties who did not participate in those operations are trying to cast a shadow on our activities.

Moreover, they say, what was the point of coming out to the square chanting 'miatsum, miatsum' [unification] during the Armenian movement? Now they avoid recognizing Karabakh. Their position hasn't changed. They say that even if this movement hadn't started in 1988, the Soviet Union would have collapsed in 1991 anyway, and we would have gained independence regardless. But the point is that if we hadn't started our activities in 1988, we wouldn't have had this three-year experience by 1991, and as a result, not only Karabakh but Armenia itself wouldn't have been so prepared. Karabakh wouldn't even exist."

In the video presented in court, the former president of Armenia said: "First, thanks to this movement, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh solved a problem that the Armenian people couldn't solve for 600 years. Armenia and Karabakh were completely cleansed of other peoples. This is a 600-year-old problem, and the Armenian people will feel its importance for the next 600 years. Imagine if today in Armenia, those 170,000 people of other nationalities who lived here until 1988 continued to live, we wouldn't have our state today. We couldn't protect either our northern regions or the Goycha (Sevan) region.

Don't forget, let me remind you that Azerbaijanis were the majority in the regions of Vardenis (Basarkechar), Masis (Zangibasar), and Amasia, and they also constituted a large part of the population in the Zangazur region. Now this problem has been solved. We solved this problem with our movement. This was made possible by our people's national liberation struggle, the Armenian national movement and its military wing, our self-defense units, and our local Karabakh units. Karabakh as well. Today, the entire territory of Karabakh, plus an even larger area, is in Armenian hands."

In the footage, Petrosyan says: "...In conclusion, I must also note one point: I note that, as the crown of all our victories, our forces entered Aghdam last night and this morning."

The trial continues for Armenian citizens accused of crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, acts of terrorism, the preparation and execution of aggressive war, genocide, violations of war laws and rules, forcible seizure and retention of power, as well as financing terrorism, among other offenses stemming from Armenia's military aggression.