BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 18. The court
proceedings in the criminal case against Armenian citizen Ruben
Vardanyan, accused under the Criminal Code of the Republic of
Azerbaijan of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, as
well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other grave
offenses, continued on December 18, Trend reports.
The open court hearing held at the Baku Military Court was
presided over by Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and
Jamal Ramazanov (reserve judge Gunel Samedova). The defendant was
provided with an interpreter in a language he
understands—Russian—as well as a defense lawyer appointed at state
expense.
Judge Zeynal Agayev introduced the judicial panel, prosecutors
representing the state prosecution, interpreters, and others to the
victims and their legal heirs participating in the proceedings for
the first time, and explained their rights and obligations
stipulated by law.
The next court hearing has been scheduled for December 26.
Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2
(planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression),
107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109
(persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112
(deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113
(torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws
and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11,
116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violations of international humanitarian law
norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4,
120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1,
29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12
(attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship),
214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of
terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3
(illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and
possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices),
270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1
(forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the
constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3
(creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2
(illegal crossing of the state border).
To note, the preliminary investigation of the criminal case
against Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles concerning crimes
against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of
terrorism, and other offenses, was conducted by the State Security
Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.