Ishkhanyan's final statement concludes the trial of former Karabakh leaders

During a hearing at the Baku Military Court, former speaker of the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament, David Ishkhanyan, delivered his closing statement, denying the charges. The verdict will be announced at the next hearing.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," the trial of the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh accused of war crimes concluded on October 31. The prosecution requested life imprisonment for Arayik Harutyunyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and David Manukyan, and 16 to 20 years in prison for the others. On December 4, the lawyers called the guilt of their clients unproven and called on the court to acquit them. On December 11, eight defendants in the case against the military-political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh made their final statements before a Baku court. All stated that they did not consider themselves guilty of the war crimes charged against them. On December 22, Babayan and Mnatsakanyan also denied the charges in a Baku court.

At the court hearing, Ishkhanyan stated that he did not participate in the forced eviction of people from their places of residence, illegal settlement, planting mines, planning an aggressive war, preparing new plans for attack, genocide, the extermination of civilians, violation of the laws and customs of war, persecution of civilians, hostage-taking, illegal imprisonment in violation of international law, torture, murder of civilians, plunder of property, participation in a criminal organization, illegal transportation of weapons and ammunition, or other crimes, the Azertaj newspaper reported today.

The accused also spoke about the tragedy in Garakand, which occurred on November 20, 1991. He stated that the explosion of the Azerbaijani helicopter, which was carrying high-ranking officials, was an air crash.

In his speech, Ishkhanyan also touched on the points of the indictment related to prisoners and hostages. He noted that he had no contact with the Azerbaijani prisoners and hostages. "I do not consider myself guilty; I have not committed any crime," he stated at the end of his statement.

Presiding Judge Agayev noted that this concluded the closing arguments. The parties indicated they would not submit a draft verdict.

After this, the presiding judge declared the trial closed. The panel of judges retired to the deliberation room. The verdict will be announced at the next hearing.

The defendants are charged under Articles 100 (planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression), 102 (attack on persons or institutions enjoying international protection), 103 (genocide), 105 (destruction of the population), 106 (slavery), 107 (deportation or forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (enforced disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty in violation of international law), 113 (use of torture), 114 (mercenarism), 115 (violation of the laws and customs of war), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts), 118 (war robbery), 120 (premeditated murder), 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing terrorism), 218 (organization of a criminal community (criminal organization), 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons, components for them, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices), 270-1 (acts that create a threat to aviation security), 277 (attempt on the life of a statesman or public figure), 278 (violent seizure of power or violent retention of power, violent change of the constitutional order of the state), 279 (creation of armed formations or groups not provided for by law) and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the publication says.