
An open court proceeding has begun today regarding criminal cases involving crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including aggressive warfare, genocide, forced displacement, persecution, torture, military looting, and other illegal acts committed against Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people by the Armenian state and its armed forces, including the self-proclaimed “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” established in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and its illegal armed formations.
According to Report, this process will primarily serve to establish through judicial means Armenia’s state responsibility as an occupying, aggressive country and its other illegal actions.
At the preparatory session held at the Baku Military Court located in the Baku Court Complex, presided over by judges Zeynal Agayev, Jamal Ramazanov, and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), the accused persons were provided with Armenian language interpreters and defense lawyers.
First, the interpreters were announced, and the requirements of legislation, including their rights and duties, were explained to them. The accused persons were asked if they had any objections to the interpreters or other participants in the process.
Then, the defense counsel for the accused persons was announced. Six prosecution employees participated as state prosecutors, and Rufat Mammadov, Head of the Cabinet of Ministers Office, participated as a victim on behalf of the Azerbaijani state.
It was reported that there are more than 531,000 victims and their representatives in the criminal case.
The judge noted that the rights and duties of the accused persons were explained to them in Armenian.
Additionally, their rights and duties were explained again during the court session.
Then a break was announced in the court trial.
After the break, Harutyunyan addressed the court saying he wanted to make a statement. The judge gave him the floor.
Harutyunyan said he regrets his statement about the missile strikes on Ganja during the 44-day war: “There is an opinion among Azerbaijani people that I gave this order. This decision was not made by me. Yes, I had a statement about this incident. Now I regret this statement and apologize. I didn’t have such a right, such authority, or even the opportunity to express an opinion. I explained in my testimony during the investigation why I made this statement at the time.”
Finally, the court proceedings were postponed until January 21.