Victim, resident of Lachin: Before the occupation, our village was regularly subjected to shelling by Armenia

A court in Azerbaijan continues public hearings involving Armenian nationals accused of committing crimes during the conflict over Karabakh.

Public hearings on the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan and others—who stand accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the initiation and execution of a war of aggression, acts of genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and multiple other crimes resulting from Armenia’s military aggression—continued on May 5.

The hearings, held at the Baku Military Court, were overseen by Judge Zeynal Aghayev and a panel comprising Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). Each of the accused was provided with interpretation in their preferred language and legal counsel.

In attendance were the defendants and their lawyers, some of the victims, their legal representatives and successors, and the state prosecutors.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the panel of judges and interpreters to the victims participating in the hearing for the first time and explained their rights and obligations as per national legislation.

The court began by reviewing another piece of video evidence concerning the occupation of the Khojavand district by Armenian forces. The footage, shot by Armenian troops in April 1993, depicts a group of armed men in the Khojavand district, then under Armenian occupation. Among those shown are Serzh Sargsyan, who later served as Armenia’s president (2008–2018), and Davit Ishkhanyan, currently standing trial.

During the session, the Armenian-language video was translated. In the video, Sargsyan is seen inspecting the area and visiting military units.

Monte Melkonyan is seen reporting to Sargsyan, who states: “We are not discussing a ceasefire now. We are discussing offensive operations and seizing more territory.”

Sargsyan is also shown touring the area and conversing with D. Ishkhanyan, Commander of the 28th Khojavand Battalion, who updates him on military activities in the Aghdam district, particularly around the Abdal-Gulabli axis. Their conversation covers operational conditions, troop movements, and supply logistics.

The footage ends with Sargsyan briefly addressing the soldiers.

After the video was shown, prosecutors questioned Ishkhanyan, who acknowledged remembering the footage and explained Sargsyan’s visit: “They visited my battalion. They were getting acquainted with the situation at the positions.”

He identified several figures in the video, including Serzh Sargsyan, Monte Melkonyan, and Movses Hakobyan, Melkonyan’s deputy at the time and later Chief of the General Staff of Armenia’s Armed Forces. He also mentioned Aramayiz Karapetyan, his former Chief of Staff. “The man in the background was a driver, I think for either Movses Hakobyan or Monte Melkonyan,” Ishkhanyan said.

When asked about Sargsyan’s statement regarding “occupying more territories,” Ishkhanyan said, “I cannot comment on what Sargsyan said.”

He noted that his battalion received support from the “Khojavand Defense District” headquarters and confirmed that it was involved in combat in the Aghdam district during July–August 1993.

Next, the court presented footage relating to the occupation of Azerbaijan’s Lachin district by Armenian forces.

This footage, filmed by Armenian militants on May 18, 1992, showed burning homes and armed fighters. In one scene, a militant says, “Ashot, Ashot, watch it burn,” pointing to a house.

The hearing then proceeded with victim testimonies.

Jamal Mammadov, from the Jijimli village in Lachin, testified that Armenian forces occupied his village in May 1992. He also recalled his father, Mehdi Mammadov, being killed by Armenian soldiers on August 12, 1989. “Russian soldiers told us he was killed by an Armenian named Kamo. I was 18 then,” he stated.

Another victim, Aghali Ibrahimov, born in 1961 in Jaghazur village, confirmed the date of occupation as May 18, 1992. He described how, before the occupation, the village was frequently shelled from Armenia’s Gorus district and Digh village. “Before May 8, 1992, the attacks seemed sporadic. But from May 8 onward, it was clear they were coordinated. They used Grad, Alazan missiles, and long-range artillery,” he noted.

Ibrahimov also stated that his family suffered extensive property loss, including a six-room house, auxiliary buildings, fruit trees, livestock, and household belongings.

Then, protocols of the massacre in Balligaya village, Goranboy district, on August 28, 1992, were read, and horrifying photographs were presented.

According to these documents, Armenian armed forces opened fire on Azerbaijani IDPs from Naghdali village (Lachin), temporarily settled in makeshift shelters near the Gulustan forest in Balligaya. The attack took place at around 5 a.m., killing 24 and wounding 9.

Among the deceased were 7 children under 18, 4 elderly over 60, 13 women and 11 men.

The court also reviewed documents on the shelling of civilians in Gulustan village on September 19, 1992. At around 6 p.m., Armenian forces attacked residents harvesting potatoes, killing 20 and injuring several others.

On the same day, as police attempted to evacuate civilians from Gulustan, 13 were killed and 8 injured. Two police officers were killed, and two more wounded.

Victim Binnet Mehdiyev, previously displaced from Shusha, said he had moved to Balligaya with his family after the occupation of Lachin. He lost numerous family members, including his parents, two brothers, a sister, and other relatives in the attack on August 28, 1992. “My relative Vazir lost his wife and six children, including a six-month-old baby,” he said.

Shahla Guliyeva, another victim, stated her family fled Lachin in May 1992 and resettled in Goranboy. She saw a helicopter on August 27 and informed her mother-in-law. “That night we were terrified. At 5 a.m. the next day, everything was ablaze.” She escaped into the forest and was wounded.

She lost her mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, her mother-in-law’s 110-year-old mother-in-law, and other relatives.

Nasraddin Mustafayev testified that on September 19, 1992, Armenian forces opened fire while they were harvesting potatoes in Gulustan. He was wounded in the leg and lost part of his toes.

Sahiba Mustafayeva said she was 12 when she was shot while returning from the potato fields with her father and grandfather. Both were killed.

Nofel Nuruyev stated he drove a “Zil” truck to Gulustan to harvest potatoes on his supervisor’s instructions. He was injured in the eye and is now blind in one eye. He identified several of the deceased and noted around 20 people were killed.

Police officer Khaleddin Rustamov stated he was on duty at the police post in Gulustan on September 19. He and officer Jeyhun Teyyubov were wounded, while colleagues Elkhan Suleymanov and Yavar Kazimov were killed.

The forensic medical examination findings on the victims were also presented during the hearings.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 8.

It should be noted that 15 Armenian nationals face charges for a wide range of crimes, including direct participation and orchestration by Armenian state bodies, armed forces, and illegal armed groups, through orders, funding, planning, central command, and execution of military aggression and terrorist acts in Azerbaijan. The accused include Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Mushegi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others.

The indicted individuals—Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan—are charged under Articles 100, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 120, 192, 214, 214-1, 218, 228, 270-1, 277, 278, 279, and other provisions of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

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Azerbaijan Armenia war crimes trial Khojavand lachin