APA News Agency interviewed Ilgar Safarov, Senior Assistant to the prosecutor general on special assignments
– What investigative measures are being taken regarding Vagif Khachatryan, who was detained for the Meshali genocide at the "Lachin" border crossing point? Has the preliminary interrogation of Vagif Khachatrya taken place? Did he confess his actions?
– After Vagif Khachatryan was detained, his medical examination was initially conducted and he was transferred to a medical institution. He was examined by doctors regarding his health. After the medical examination, he was provided with a lawyer and a translator. Charges against Vagif Khachatryan were announced and preliminary interrogation was held. Currently, other investigative actions are being conducted in connection with him.
– Did the law enforcement agencies have information about Vagif Khachatryan living in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan?
– The search decision regarding Vagif Khachatryan was adopted in 2013. After that, the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan started operational-search work on the wanted persons and work is being carried out in this direction, at the same time, relevant operational information is collected on the accused persons who committed crimes against Azerbaijanis.
– In connection with the Mesali genocide, how many other people besides Vagif Khachatryan have been charged with crimes?
– Initially, during the investigation, the identity of 9 armed persons of Armenian nationality was determined and they were searched. Among them, Vagif Khachatryan was arrested and handed over for investigation. Investigative actions are being taken to identify the wanted persons, including other participants in the crime.
– The Armenian side, including the socio-political circles of the mentioned country, express opinions that the incident was committed 30 years ago and that the term of criminal responsibility has expired. In addition, there is also a provision in the Azerbaijani legislation that a person over the age of 65 cannot be deprived of liberty for more than 10 years. Can this factor be applied to Vagif Khachartyan?
– In crimes committed against peace and war, as well as against humanity, the passing of the period of involvement in the crime is not taken into account. This does not apply to the perpetrators of the aforementioned crimes. Vagif Khachatryan is currently being investigated. From now on, it is not possible to express an opinion on what kind of punishment he will receive and for what period of time he will be deprived of his liberty. This is not legally correct and is also contrary to the presumption of innocence. Because there is no court verdict against the person. After the conclusion of the investigation, if the evidence collected against Vagif Khachatryan is sufficient, the indictment will be drawn up and the criminal case will be sent to the court for consideration. During the court review, there may be a discussion of any punishment, or mitigating-aggravating circumstances. If there is a mitigating circumstance, it will apply to Vagif Khachatryan. Because he is a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He will also use the rights enjoyed by our other citizens.
– Let's admit that the detention of Vagif Khachatryan was somewhat unexpected. People already have hopes that other criminals will be caught and punished. Where is the investigation of others like Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Seyran Ohanyan? Moreover, criminal cases have been opened in Armenia against those mentioned...
– It was announced by the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan that an investigation is being conducted on the persons who have committed crimes against the people of Azerbaijan. The investigation conducted on Meshali also showed that these works have been carried out since 1992. Various investigative actions are being carried out in the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Military Prosecutor's Office in relation to the other persons whose names you listed and those you did not list. Many of them have arrest warrants. The search for those persons has been announced. Search operations are currently ongoing. It has been announced many times, and now we note that they will be brought to criminal responsibility. Their actions are crimes against peace and humanity. There is no statute of limitations for those crimes. Due to political processes, this period may be delayed. But in any case, it will be ensured that those persons are brought to criminal responsibility and brought to justice.
– If the peace negotiations between the two countries are successful, how realistic is the extradition and handover of Kocharyan, Sargsyan, Ohanyan and others to Azerbaijan from a legal point of view?
– It is too early to answer this question. Legal issues have not been formed between the law enforcement agencies of Armenia and Azerbaijan. We have to wait for the development of the processes in the future.
– The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Kamran Aliyev, has already held meetings with his Armenian counterpart several times at the initiative of the Russian side. So, were the war crimes committed in the Karabakh region a topic of discussion in these meetings?
– After the meetings of Mr. President with the Prime Minister of Armenia, a meeting was held between the Prosecutor Generals of the two countries with the mediation of Russia. These meetings took place several times. In these meetings, the necessity of developing bilateral relations was noted. Certain discussions were held regarding the future work in this direction. Of course, during those discussions, the crimes committed against Azerbaijanis and other necessary issues were also discussed.
–In general, how many Azerbaijani citizens have been killed by Armenian armed groups so far?
– The number of victims of all criminal incidents committed during the investigation, as well as the number of physically injured persons, has been determined. These numbers are known for each criminal case. Every criminal case will be reported regularly.
– How many of the perpetrators of war crimes against Azerbaijanis are Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian descent?
– For example, the number of people searched for Mesali genocide is 9. Vagif Khachartyan has already been detained, he is a citizen of Azerbaijan. Among the other wanted persons there are citizens of Azerbaijan.
As you know, Mesali events took place in December 1991. An attack on the village of Meshali was organized with the participation of a group of armed people who are citizens of Azerbaijan and of Armenian nationality, and at the same time came from Armenia. As a result, 25 Azerbaijanis were killed and 14 were seriously injured. More than 40 private residential houses and state-owned buildings were burned and looted. 5.5 million manats were damaged as material damage. In connection with these facts, on January 11, 1992, the site of the incident was inspected by the single operational investigative team of the General Prosecutor's Office. A criminal case has been opened in connection with Meshali incident in Shusha city. In aggravated cases, the investigation of the criminal case on the charges of intentional homicide, robbery, robbery, and murder of two or more persons was continued.
In general, since 1988, criminal cases related to the facts committed by Armenians have been initiated and each of them has been registered in the prosecutor's office. Currently, the investigation of such criminal cases is being continued in the Special Investigation Department of the Military Prosecutor's Office and the General Prosecutor's Office.
– How many people of Armenian origin have been caught who have committed crimes against Azerbaijanis?
– We already have court experience in this regard. 3 persons of Armenian origin were brought to justice in Azerbaijan on two criminal cases. They are Eulcekcian Viken Abraham, Khosrovyan Alyosha Aramaisovich and Mkrtchyan Ludvig Mkrtchi. These persons who committed various crimes against Azerbaijanis were brought before the court. There are already legal sentences against them and they are serving their sentences.
– After the detention of Vagif Khachartyan, the statements of those who were tortured by him have already been published on social networks and in the media. Are those people invited to the investigation?
– Each of the persons identified during the preliminary investigation period was interrogated and they were recognized as victims in the case. In the course of the investigation, we have already received some appeals. They are currently being interrogated. If there are circumstances that require their recognition as a victim, they will be recognized as a victim in the case. When there is such information on social networks and media resources, they are immediately invited to the investigation.
– Have any investigative actions been carried out so far regarding the criminal acts committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in the territories freed from occupation?
– A large part of the liberated territories was mined by Armenians. In this regard, clearing areas of mines and unexploded ordnance and creating safe conditions require a long time. Necessary investigative actions are carried out by prosecutor's office officers in the areas that have already been cleared of mines. Because the criminal cases under investigation are in several directions. There are genocide, torture, and environmental crimes here. This process will continue as the areas are cleared of mines.
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