Victims in Vardanyan's case testified in court about the shelling of Lachin

Azerbaijani citizens recognized as victims in a war crimes case testified in court about the shelling of Lachin by Armenian units. Lachin came under Baku's control even before defendant Ruben Vardanyan became a Karabakh official.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on November 21, at a hearing in the case of former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister  Ruben Vardanyan , Azerbaijani citizens recognized as victims testified about shelling that occurred on the Armenian side long before Vardanyan moved to Karabakh. Specifically, the victims described shelling in the Kelbajar region, which came under Baku's control following the 44-day war in 2020, and in the Zangilan region, which was also occupied by Azerbaijan in 2020 .

On December 8, at a hearing in the Baku Military Court on the Ruben Vardanyan case, the victims' testimonies were heard, APA reports.

Specifically, victim Nuran Gasimov said he was wounded in the leg as a result of an attack by Armenian forces in Lachin. Responding to the state prosecutor's question, he clarified that other people were also injured in the incident.

Another victim, Alimukhtar Ibragimov, reported that he was wounded along with Nuran Gasymov. He confirmed that several other people were injured at the time.

Panakh Aliyev told the court that he suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of an "enemy provocation in Lachin." Victim Asker Beylyarov also gave similar testimony.

Victim Ulvi Rahimov said he was wounded in the arm "as a result of an enemy attack in Lachin," while Elvin Salimov said he was wounded in the head and arm "during an enemy attack" in Lachin.

"The victim, Samir Mamedov, also noted that he was wounded as a result of an enemy provocation in Lachin," the agency's publication stated.

During the reading of his testimony, Ruben Vardanyan filed a motion to review certain documents related to the criminal case, including questionnaires, Trend reports.

His lawyer, Emil Babishev, asked the court to grant the motion, and Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Vusal Aliyev, said he had no objections. The presiding judge then stated that the lawyer could review the documents within a week, "and the necessary conditions would be created for this," the publication states.

22:12 28.11.2025

The trial of Karabakh leaders in Baku has become a historical precedent.

The trial of former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders in Baku is unique; there have been no similar trials in world history. International trust in the court has been undermined, but the trial is largely aimed at a domestic audience, according to analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot."

As a reminder, the Baku Military Court has been hearing Vardanyan's case since January 2025. The charges against Vardanyan, including war crimes, terrorism, and terrorist financing, carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment. Since April 1, victims have been testifying at the hearings. The defendant and his lawyer have filed multiple protests  to the court, but all motions to recuse the judges have been denied.

Vardanyan's case is being heard separately from those of the other Karabakh leaders. A total of 15 former Karabakh officials are on trial in Baku, including former presidents  Arayik Harutyunyan ,  Bako Sahakyan ,  and  Arkady Ghukasyan , as well as former parliament speaker David Ishkhanyan. They are charged under more than 20 articles of the Criminal Code, and the case comprises 2,548 counts.

On October 31, the completion of the trial of the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh was announced. The prosecution requested life sentences for Arayik Harutyunyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and David Manukyan, and 20 years or more for the others. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report titled " Vardanyan and 15 Karabakh Leaders: Key Points on the Baku Courts ."