AZERBAIJANTIMES.ORG

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 23. The open court
hearing in the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of
Armenia—Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasian, Bako Sahakyan, Davit
Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others—accused
of war crimes, crimes against peace, crimes against humanity,
including planning and waging an aggressive war, genocide,
violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of
terrorism, illegal seizure of power, unlawful retention of
authority, and numerous other offenses committed as a result of
Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan—resumed on
December 23, Trend reports.

The session was held at the Baku Military Court under the
chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov
and Anar Rzayev and reserve judge Gunel Samadova.

Each of the accused was provided with interpreters in their
preferred language and defense attorneys, ensuring full compliance
with procedural rights.

The hearing was attended by the accused, their defense lawyers,
some victims, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as
prosecutors representing the state prosecution.

Presiding judge Zeynal Aghayev stated that the court proceedings
continue with final statements from the accused.

During the hearing, defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan continued his
final statement.

He voiced his opposing views regarding the accusations and
statements made by the prosecution and victims concerning the April
2016 battles, mercenaries, and other issues.

Defendant Mnatsakanyan stated that he was accused of planning
the April battles but claimed this was not true. He alleged that
all events during the April battles took place within the so-called
regime’s “defense regions” and “divisions” and that the fighting
was managed by them.

Speaking about damage to civilian objects during the April
battles, the defendant claimed that civilian facilities were not
deliberately targeted and that military objectives were aimed at
instead. He stated that the weapons of the so-called “defense army”
(the largest formation of the Armenian armed forces—ed.) were
obtained from the Armenian armed forces.

Former artillery brigade commander Mnatsakanyan also addressed
accusations related to damage to forests and the destruction of
monuments as a result of artillery strikes. He rejected these
accusations, stating that monuments could have been damaged by
other weapons as well.

“In addition to artillery, these weapons were also used: tanks,
infantry fighting vehicles, mortars, hand grenades, etc.,” he
said.

The defendant said he did not participate in the Tunnel and
Bashlibel incidents (the Tunnel and Bashlibel massacres—ed.),
noting that he was undergoing treatment due to an injury at the
time and was receiving physiotherapy.

“At that time, the artillery of the central defense region was
still newly forming,” he added.

The court proceedings will 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.