Trial on Karabakh separatists' case

On Tuesday, 21 January, a preparatory hearing on the criminal case of the Karabakh separatists continued in Baku. Once again, only representatives of two government media outlets, AZTV and AzerTaj, were allowed to attend the trial.

The session reviewed the motions of the defence side. A defence lawyer of the former ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs’ David Babayan applied for a confidential meeting with his client.The court granted this motion and a recess was announced for such a meeting.

After the adjournment, the lawyers of the majority of the defendants asked to replace the arrest of the defendants with house arrest. However, the state prosecutor objected in view of the personality of the defendants and the gravity of the charges.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev gave the floor to each defendant to express their attitude to the motions. Defendant Araik Harutyunyan said that, unlike other defendants, he and his lawyer had not filed a motion for transfer to house arrest and he did not complain about his health condition.

‘If a health-related problem arises, it is solved in the isolation centre. In general, I have not heard any health complaints from other defendants,’ Harutyunyan said.

Defendants Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Melikset Pashayan, Davit Allahverdyan asked to satisfy their petitions and be released under house arrest.

Other defendants left it to the discretion of the court to satisfy their petitions.

Note that the next court session will be held on 27 January, where the petition-related decisions will be announced.