The preparation phase of the trial of former leaders of Artsakh continued on January 21 in the Baku Military Court under Judge Zeynal Aghayev.

The prosecution is represented by six prosecutors.

Baku has brought charges against 15 individuals in 2,548 counts, including Arkadi Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, and other former leaders of the Republic of Artsakh. They are accused under various articles of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, including: 100 (aggressive war), 103 (genocide), 107 (forced displacement), 113 (torture), 115 (violations of the laws of war), 214 (terrorism), and 279 (creation of illegal armed groups), according to APA.

It is also noted that preliminary investigations into cases against other individuals are ongoing simultaneously.

The preliminary hearing for former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan will resume on January 27. Vardanyan, who was previously a Russian citizen, is accused under several charges, including “terrorism, its financing, and illegal border crossing into Azerbaijan.”

In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its Armenian population, Azerbaijan detained former Artsakh Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, as well as former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, and other former officials. The fabricated charges against them could result in life imprisonment. On January 17, the first hearing in the trial of Artsakh’s leaders was held in Baku.

In his January 16 statement, Ruben Vardanyan emphasized that he has not provided any testimony since his arrest apart from his name. He noted that all documents bearing his signature are falsified and confirmed that he, his lawyer, and his translator have been subjected to pressure.