Baku: Court proceedings in the criminal case against Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, continued with an examination of documents. The charges include crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and the financing of terrorism.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the open court session at the Baku Military Court was chaired by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov present, and reserve judge Gunel Samadova. The accused was provided with a Russian-language interpreter and a state-appointed defense lawyer. Judge Aghayev introduced the panel of judges, prosecutors, interpreters, and other participants to the victims and their legal successors attending the proceedings for the first time, explaining their rights and obligations under the law.
Ruben Vardanyan’s lawyer, Emil Babishov, submitted two motions during the session. The first motion requested that witnesses from the preliminary investigation and trial, including Kamo Hayrapetyan and Musheg Grigoryan, be considered unreliable due to their lack of connection with Vardanyan. The defense argued that their testimonies should not be used as evidence against Vardanyan or considered in the final court decision.
The second motion by E. Babishov highlighted that numerous pieces of evidence and testimonies were examined, revealing injuries sustained on different dates, some of which coincided with periods when Vardanyan was a Russian citizen. The defense argued that these testimonies lacked connection to Vardanyan, challenging their relevance to the case.
Prosecutor Tarana Mammadova commented on the motions, stating that both were of identical nature. She noted that Vardanyan had committed numerous crimes during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories with a common criminal intent. The prosecutor emphasized that witness testimonies are crucial according to Azerbaijani criminal procedure law and should be assessed during deliberations. The court decided to leave the motions pending, as the circumstances need assessment when delivering the final verdict.
The session proceeded with examining important documents related to the case. Evidence presented included a military vehicle equipped with radio equipment and the “Repellant-1” system, found in Khankendi, and a “Polya-21” radio jamming station in Khojaly. These devices were reportedly used to interfere with Azerbaijani airspace satellite navigation signals, posing a threat to aircraft safety.
The court also addressed further requests by Vardanyan, including reviewing volumes of the criminal case and examining audio-video recordings. The judge agreed to these requests, allowing Vardanyan to familiarize himself with the case materials and examine the necessary recordings.
The next court session is scheduled for December 16. Vardanyan faces multiple charges, including planning and waging a war of aggression, deportation, persecution, forcible disappearance, and various forms of terrorism and illegal activities under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.