Court hearings on the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen charged with torture, mercenary activity, violation of the laws and customs of warfare, terrorism, financing terrorism and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, were continued on March 4. Ruben Vardanyan’sdefense attorney Avraam Berman filed several motions with the court.

The defense attorney addressed the court with a motion seeking to provide his defendant with a notice explaining his rights and obligations, to create additional conditions for familiarization with case materials, including the minutes of the court hearings, and to provide Russian translation of the decision to bring criminal charges against him.

The Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, Vusal Aliyev, who defends public prosecution in the case, noted in his commentary on the motions that a petition of the same content had been considered in previous court hearings and that a corresponding decision had been made. In particular, the defendant was given sufficient time to familiarize himself with the case materials both during the preliminary investigation and the trial proper. Also, the fact that the defendant was provided with notices explaining his rights and obligations and the decision to bring criminal chargesagainst him is confirmed by case materials. Taking all this into account, the prosecutor asked the court to leave the latest motions unconsidered.

The victims participating in the court hearings said they agreed with the position of the prosecution.

The court held an in-situ meeting and responded to the motions.

Zeynal Agayev noted that the accused was provided with a notice explaining his rights and obligations during the preliminary investigation, which is confirmed by case materials. In addition, the rights and obligations of the accused were explained to him in detail both during the preparatory hearing and during the trialitself, which is also confirmed by notices the court officially provided him with. The accused was also given sufficient time to familiarize himself with the case materials. However, if the accused wants to familiarize himself with documents in the case materials, including the minutes of the court hearings, he will have the opportunity to do so again.

The open hearings were held at the Baku Military Court and presided over by Judge Zeynal Agayev and a panel of judges consisting of Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov. The accused was provided with an interpreter in the language of his choice, i.e. Russian, as well as lawyers for his defense.