Baku: Court proceedings against Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, who faces charges under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and other serious offenses, continued with a focus on document examination. An open court session at the Baku Military Court, led by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and joined by judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov, ensured the presence of a Russian-language interpreter and a state-appointed defense lawyer for the accused.
According to Trend News Agency, the session commenced with Judge Zeynal Aghayev introducing the judicial panel, prosecutors, interpreters, and other participants to the victims and their legal representatives attending for the first time. The judge also elucidated their legal rights and duties. Defense lawyer Emil Babishov submitted two motions, requesting the dismissal of certain witness testimonies as unreliable evidence and contesting their relevance to Vardanyan. He argued that many testimonies were unrelated to Vardanyan’s actions during the timeframe when he was not an Armenian citizen.
Prosecutor Tarana Mammadova responded that the motions were identical and emphasized that the accused acted with criminal intent within a criminal organization. She argued that the testimonies against Vardanyan were valid and should be considered in the deliberation room. The judge deferred the motions for later assessment.
The court proceeded to examine crucial documents, revealing evidence of military equipment used to disrupt satellite signals. A search in Khankendi uncovered a military vehicle with radio equipment designed to block unmanned aerial vehicle signals. Another inspection in Khojaly confirmed the presence of radio jamming stations, which interfered with GPS systems. Additionally, a letter from Azerbaijan Airlines highlighted the threat posed by signal interference to aircraft safety.
Vardanyan requested the inclusion of several documents in his case, which the court agreed to after translation. He also sought to review volumes of the criminal case and summon witnesses, which the court allowed. The session concluded with plans for further examination of audio-video materials. The next hearing is set for December 16.