Two Armenians reportedly testify in Baku against Vardanyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - During the ongoing trial in Azerbaijan against the former State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, two Armenian witnesses have testified, according to Azerbaijani media reports. Vardanyan has refused to answer any questions.

The witnesses claimed that Vardanyan "financed the formation of groups consisting of individuals aged 45-50 to fight against Azerbaijan, participated in the mining of territories, and initiated the construction of three military warehouses."

Azerbaijani media identified these witnesses as Kamo Eduardi Hayrapetyan and Mushegh Gurgeni Grigoryan, as reported by Panorama.am.

Artsakh resident Armine Martirosyan noted that Kamo's father was killed by Azerbaijanis in Baku at the beginning of the conflict, near the Ganjlik metro station. Kamo found his father's body in the morgue of the emergency hospital. He was forced to sign a written statement claiming his father died of a heart attack, despite the body bearing 17 stab wounds.

Kamo buried his father in the village of Maragha, which later came under Azerbaijani control.

According to various sources, Kamo Hayrapetyan and Mushegh Grigoryan are Armenians who remained in Artsakh and accepted Azerbaijani citizenship.

"These names correspond to two individuals who stayed in Artsakh," wrote Artsakh resident Arshak Abrahamyan.

Another Artsakh resident added, "Mushegh is the scoundrel who stayed, the plaster Misha."

Another user commented, "Both are lonely, without family, prone to alcohol; they've never been sober, let alone capable of testifying against someone. It's all fabricated."

"According to Azerbaijani media, these two Artsakh residents testified against Ruben Vardanyan. Mr. Vardanyan's facial expression perhaps reflects our astonishment upon reading this news.

I truly don't want to believe that any Artsakh resident would testify against Ruben Vardanyan," wrote Arshak Abrahamyan.

Accusations against Ruben Vardanyan also include incidents involving Azerbaijanis injured by landmine explosions in Artsakh. During the court session, these 'victims' demanded the harshest punishment for Vardanyan.

In the latest session of the trial against former State Minister of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, held on March 11, he filed a complaint regarding the composition of the panel of judges, noting that several of his previous motions had been denied. He refused to answer questions.