Modern world history is full of numerous examples of wars ending, but criminals remaining unpunished. However, the Azerbaijani state created a rare precedent both on the battlefield and in the legal sphere. Azerbaijan not only restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty but also restored justice by bringing to justice those who committed crimes against humanity, genocide, and ecocide against our people.
In this context, the open court proceedings regarding the criminal cases against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, forcible retention of power, and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, will continue tomorrow. The trial of war criminals and their accountability before justice will be the realization of the Azerbaijani people's long-standing dream.
President Ilham Aliyev's Resolve: Fidelity to Promise
Years before the war, addressing our people, President Ilham Aliyev declared that those who organized the Khojaly genocide, terror against civilians, and the destruction of our cities would definitely be held accountable before the law:
“We will find those bloodthirsty individuals and bring them to justice. The blood of innocent victims will not remain unavenged!” – these words were not merely a political statement, but the firm will of the head of state.
Azerbaijan is one of the few countries in modern history that, without relying on any external assistance and overcoming foreign pressures, both liberated its lands and brought war criminals in handcuffs to Baku.
International Experience and the Azerbaijani Model
In terms of restoring justice, Azerbaijan's success appears more perfect compared to global experience:
The Israeli example: Although Israel found and prosecuted fascist criminals years later in various parts of the world, this process took decades, and a large portion of the criminals remained unpunished.
Former Yugoslavia: In the Balkans, war criminals were prosecuted only as a result of direct intervention and pressure from the international community and powerful states.
Azerbaijan, however, carried out this process entirely through its own strength and determination. Despite unfounded political pressures from abroad, official Baku did not back down from the rule of law.
Court Proceedings: The Collapse of Armenia's "Independence" Myth
The open court proceedings held in Baku, the facts presented, and the testimonies of the accused brought to light the direct responsibility of the Armenian state.
Confessions of the Criminals
Levon Mnatsakanyan openly admitted that the "army" of the so-called regime was not independent, but was in fact a part of the Armenian Armed Forces. He stated that military appointments were directly approved in Yerevan, and provisions were made from the Armenian budget.
Arayik Harutyunyan's participation in military operations and Bako Sahakyan's role in the occupation of Shusha were proven with specific videos and documents presented in the courtroom.
It became clear from the court proceedings that Armenia used the guise of a "fictitious regime" to conceal its occupation policy from the international community. In reality, these individuals were the implementers of Armenia's occupation policy.
State Responsibility: Urbicide and Ecocide
The court materials documented not only the crimes of individuals but also those committed by Armenia as a state against the Azerbaijani people. The facts of the destruction of our cities (urbicide), deliberate damage to our nature (ecocide), and ethnic cleansing make Armenia's state responsibility before international law inevitable.
Bringing to justice those who have committed crimes against humanity is the most just model for resolving conflicts. Azerbaijan has proven that when crime goes unpunished, it paves the way for new crimes, but when punished, it becomes the foundation of peace. This is the triumph of justice!
Elnur AMIROV
