Baku: The ongoing court proceedings have once again confirmed the involvement of the Armenian political-military leadership in ordering bombings of Azerbaijani cities located far from the front line during the war. The open court hearing, which continued on June 23rd, is part of the criminal case against several Armenian citizens, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, and Bako Sahakyan, among others, as reported by APA.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the individuals face charges for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and various other offenses linked to Armenia’s military actions against Azerbaijan. The proceedings are taking place at the Baku Military Court, overseen by Judge Zeynal Agayev, with participation from judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev. Each defendant has been provided with legal counsel and an interpreter.
During the hearing, Arayik Harutyunyan responded to questions from prosecutors, detailing his involvement with the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund and its activities in both Armenia and the self-proclaimed entity. Harutyunyan claimed that the fund’s projects in Karabakh were purely charitable, focusing on infrastructure such as schools and kindergartens. He clarified that funds were transferred through banks, not collected in cash.
Harutyunyan testified about the construction of roads connecting Armenia to formerly occupied Azerbaijani territories, emphasizing that there were no restrictions on transportation, including military equipment, except for specific items like forest trees. He also mentioned illegal settlements in these regions by people from Syria, Lebanon, and Armenia itself, primarily for agricultural opportunities.
The defendant addressed questions regarding the financing of the self-proclaimed entity’s budget and military, stating that while funds were allocated from the Armenian budget as “interest-free credit,” they did not finance the “army,” which was separately funded by Armenia.
Harutyunyan also provided insights into the banking system within the self-proclaimed regime, highlighting that “Artsakhbank” was registered by the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia and operated mainly in Khankendi. He discussed the operations of Armenian companies in the occupied territories, such as “Base Metals” and “Karabakh Telecom,” noting their financial contributions and activities.
The court session also examined documents from Harutyunyan’s time as “head” of the self-proclaimed entity, including alleged orders for military actions. Harutyunyan denied issuing orders to bomb Ganja, asserting that the “army” of the entity was under the Armenian armed forces and lacked independent authority.
The proceedings revealed protocols on obstructing flights and the detection of equipment for jamming signals in Khankendi and Khojali. The state prosecutor questioned Harutyunyan on mass graves discovered post-liberation, to which he attributed the lack of findings during the occupation to minimal construction activities by Armenian forces.
The hearing, which involves 15 defendants accused of various crimes during the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, will continue on June 30. The charges encompass a wide range of violations, including waging a war of aggression, genocide, and terrorism, among others, as stated in the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.