Khojaly Genocide Perpetrator Rashid Beglaryan Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

Rashid Beglaryan, who was accused of committing genocide and terrorism against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The verdict was announced today at a court session held in the Sabunchu District Court, presided over by Judge Ali Suleymanov of the Fuzuli Military Court. It was noted that he will serve the first 5 years of his sentence in a general regime prison and the remainder in a strict regime penitentiary. The state prosecutor had requested a 17-year prison sentence.

According to information released by the State Security Service, Rashid Aramayisi Beglaryan, who was previously held in detention at the Children's Hospital No. 3 in Khankendi, was suspected of torturing Azerbaijani prisoners and other individuals protected by international humanitarian law, as well as committing other serious crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and participating in the activities of illegal Armenian armed groups. He was charged under Articles 103, 107, 109, 112, 113, 115.2, 116.0.1, 116.0.6, 116.0.8, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 318.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Article 70.2, part 3, and Article 220, part 1, of the Criminal Code, which was in force until September 1, 2000. The individuals who were subjected to the aforementioned torture were identified and recognized as victims in the current criminal case.

During his interrogation, Rashid Beglaryan provided information about his participation in the Khojaly massacre in February 1992. He stated that on February 25, 1992, Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups operating under their command attacked the densely populated civilian city of Khojaly from the city of Khankendi. According to a prearranged plan, false promises were given to the surviving Azerbaijani civilians that they could safely travel towards Aghdam district through the Askeran region. On February 26, 1992, these armed groups, including Beglaryan, ambushed and fired automatic weapons at approximately 200 civilians, mostly women, children, and the elderly, moving along the bank of the Gargar River towards Aghdam district, killing them. After the victims were killed, their personal belongings were looted by the criminal gang members, and their bodies were buried around the Askeran fortress.

During the crime scene investigation, Rashid Beglaryan visually indicated the locations where crimes were committed against civilians and provided detailed information about these incidents.