Trials of Karabakh separatist leaders begin in Baku on 17 January. The trial of former ‘state minister’ Ruben Vardanyan will be held separately in the building of Baku Court Complex in Govsan settlement.
At the second trial the following will stand before the court: Ghukasyan Arkady, Harutyunyan Araik, Sahakyan Bako, Ishkhanyan Davit, Babayan Davit, Mnatsakanyan Leva, Manukyan Davit, Martirosyan Garik, Pashayan Melikset, Allahverdyan Davit, Stepanyan Gurgen, Balayan Levon, Babayan Madat, Beglaryan Vasily, Gazaryan Eric.
All of them are accused of many grave crimes against the statehood of Azerbaijan (waging a war of aggression, separatism, genocide, creation of illegal armed formations, deportation, murders, tortures, etc.).
The offences were committed between 1987 and 2023. 1,389 criminal cases have been merged into a single proceeding.
The investigation was carried out by the State Security Service and the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan. All of them face life imprisonment.
The mentioned persons were detained in Karabakh during the anti-terrorist operation in September 2023. The trial will be held in the Baku Judicial Centre.
It ought to be noted that in addition to well-known leaders, there are several little-known names in the list of the accused.
Politics
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Journalist Farid Ismayilov, who had been under police supervision in connection with the Toplum TV case, was detained on January 17 and brought to the Khatai District Court, his colleagues reported.
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Ilham Aliyev congratulated Irakli Kobakhidze on the victory of the Georgian Dream party in the elections and wished him continued success. "The victory of your party is of particular significance for the entire South Caucasus, making it a more stable region, and we rejoice in this victory as your friends and brothers. We wish your government new successes in its work," said Aliyev during a joint briefing following talks and the signing of bilateral documents.
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On January 17, the Khatai District Court of Baku rejected the requests for house arrest for journalists Aynur Elgünesh and Natig Djavadly, employees of Meydan TV, their lawyers, Elchin Sadigov and Zibeyda Sadigova reported to Turan news agency. According to the lawyers, there are no legal or procedural grounds for keeping the journalists in detention. The journalists themselves stated that the criminal case against them had been fabricated to punish them for their professional activities. The defense intends to appeal the court's refusal to transfer the journalists to house arrest.
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The preliminary investigation in the case of the Toplum TV publication (journalists and activists) is coming to an end, reported Rasul Jafarov, the lawyer of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, Ruslan Izzatli.
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