Baku: An open court hearing at the Baku Military Court regarding the criminal cases involving Armenian citizens saw several motions filed by the accused individuals.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the hearing, which took place on September 22, included requests to summon high-profile figures as witnesses.
Accused David Manukyan petitioned for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Vova Pashinyan to testify either in person or via videoconference. In addition, David Babayan, another accused, requested that the court invite the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, notably Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to serve as witnesses.
Babayan argued that these individuals have had direct contact with the accused and could provide valuable testimony. Similarly, accused Davit Ishkhanyan sought the participation of six Russian peacekeepers who were previously stationed in Azerbaijani territories, suggesting their testimony could be crucial due to their direct or indirect interactions with the accused.
Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev commented on the defense motions, indicating that the prosecution’s submitted documents are under review. Aliyev highlighted that the individuals named by the defense have no direct connection to the charges currently pending in court, suggesting no necessity for their testimony.
The prosecutor for the state requested that the court dismiss the motion, and the presiding judge ultimately rejected it. The judge reasoned that the defense did not sufficiently demonstrate the relevance of the requested testimonies to the case at hand.
Court proceedings are ongoing against the Armenian nationals, who face serious charges including war crimes, terrorism, and violations of international law, among other offenses.