Preliminary statements of Armenian citizens accused of war crimes read in Baku court

A session of the Baku Military Court continued the open trial examining criminal cases against Armenian citizens Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadiy Ghukasyan, Bako Saakyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes-including planning and waging aggressive war-genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

According to Report, the session was presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzaev (reserve judge – Gunel Samadova). Each defendant was provided with a translator for their language and legal counsel for defense.

The session was attended by the defendants, their lawyers, some of the victims and their representatives, and prosecutors representing the state.

The court session continued with the reading of statements by defendant Levon Balayan from the preliminary investigation, along with other documents related to his case.

According to his testimony during the preliminary investigation, Balayan was called up for military service in January 1995 and served as a soldier in military units in Shusha, Khankandi and Khojaly until 1998. During this period, he was issued an AKS74 assault rifle.

The military units in which he served were equipped with heavy T-55, T-72 tanks, and Russian-made BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles. Balayan noted that one of the senior commanders, Levon Mnatsakanyan (the accused, currently in custody - ed.), often visited military units and checked their combat readiness. On September 20, 2020, he was forcibly conscripted into "service" in the "armed forces" by the "Military Commissariat" of the city of Khankandi and fought in the first days of the 44-day war, that is, from September 27 to October 2, as part of an armed formation on the "3rd line of defense" stationed in the village of Sugovushan.

The battalion he served in was called "Alasha." Balayan also stated in his testimony during the preliminary investigation that on May 1, 2023, he joined one of the armed formations created and financed by Ruben Vardanyan in the then occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Since then, he has been receiving a monthly salary of 170,000 drams, or $700, on an "Artsakhbank" card (an Armenian bank - ed.).

He was detained by Azerbaijani servicemen on September 20. 

Later, the presiding judge of the court announced that the reading of the preliminary investigation statements of all 15 defendants had been completed.

He stated that the defendants would be asked whether there were any contradictions in the statements they gave during the preliminary and court investigations, and whether they agreed with the statements read out in court.

Defendants Levon Balayan, Melikset Pashayan, and Gurgen Stepanyan confirmed their preliminary investigation statements with minor exceptions.

Defendants Madat Babayan and Garik Martirosyan fully confirmed the statements they gave during the preliminary investigation.

Gurgen Stepanyan, David Allahverdyan, as well as Erik Ghazaryan and Vasili Beglaryan, stated that they confirmed the statements they gave during the court investigation.

David Manukyan requested that the court take into account the statement he gave during the court investigation.

Defendant Arkadiy Ghukasyan also requested that his statement given during the court investigation, rather than the preliminary investigation, be considered.

Defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan noted that he disagreed with certain parts of the statement read out in court.

David Ishkhanyan requested that his statement given during the court investigation, not the preliminary investigation, be taken into account.

Defendants Bako Saakyan and Arayik Harutyunyan also asked the panel of judges to base their consideration on the statements given during the court investigation.

Defendant David Babayan, after holding a confidential meeting with his lawyer, requested that he be given the opportunity to respond to the read-out statement and the preliminary investigation statement at the next court session.

The presiding judge stated that, taking into account the defendant"s motion, he would be given the opportunity to respond to his statement at the next session.

The court proceedings will continue on September 8.