The trial of Rashid Beglaryan, who is accused of committing genocide against Azerbaijanis and terrorism in Khojaly, has ended; the judge sentenced him to 15 years, APA reports.
According to information, the judges of the Fuzuli District Court are investigating his criminal case. As required by law, Beglaryan was provided with a lawyer and an interpreter at the court's expense. What happened in the court and what was mentioned in the case materials was explained to him one by one.
R. Beglaryan was arrested by the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The investigation of the criminal case was conducted at the Main Investigation Department of the Service. Beglaryan is accused of war crimes. He gave important information about the Khojaly genocide even during the preliminary investigation period.
On February 26, 1992, he admitted that up to 200 Azerbaijani civilians were shot by the armed forces, including by himself, with particular cruelty.
He spoke in detail at the previous sessions of the court as well. During the investigation, based on confidential information, it was revealed that about EUR 2 million were transferred from the French Republic to Beglaryan’s account. According to him, some people living in France before he was caught donated that money to help him. But this is his claim.
At today's meeting, the last documents on the case were studied, and the court investigation was completed.
In the continuation of the process, the prosecutor gave indictment.
State prosecutor Fuad Kazimov demanded that Rashid Beglaryan be sentenced to 17 years in prison after being found guilty of war-related and other crimes.
The victims requested that the accused be sentenced to the most severe punishment allowed by law.
The lawyer of the accused asked for a light sentence for his client. In his last speech, Beglaryan asked for a light sentence as well. He added that he regretted his participation in the war.
The court panel chaired by Ali Suleymanov announced the verdict after deliberation.
According to the verdict, Rashid Beglaryan was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He will serve 5 years of his sentence in prison and the rest in a maximum security penitentiary.
It should be noted that 62-year-old R. Beglaryan was detained last year while illegally crossing the border in the village of Zabukh, Lachin district. On the basis of the request of SSS, a pre-trial detention measure was chosen.
***11:45
The trial of Rashid Beglaryan, who is accused of committing genocide against Azerbaijanis and terrorism in Khojaly, continues, APA reports.
The next court session started today at the Sabunchu District Court chaired by the judge of the Fuzuli Military Court, Ali Suleymanov.
According to the information released by the State Security Service, Rashid Beglaryan is suspected of being involved in various serious crimes, including torture against Azerbaijani prisoners of war and other individuals protected by international humanitarian law who were detained in children's hospital No. 3 located in Khankandi city with restrictions on their freedom, as well as committing other serious criminal acts, such as war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity, as well as participating in other forms of activity related to the illegal Armenian armed groups under 103, 107, 109, 112, 113, 115.2, 116.0.1, 116.0.6, 116.0.8, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 318.1 , and Part 3 of Article 70.2 of the Criminal Code, as well as Part 1 of Article 220 of the Criminal Code, which was in force until September 1, 2000. Those persons who were subjected to mentioned tortures were identified and recognized as victims of the current criminal case.
During his interrogation, the accused, Rashid Beglaryan, providing information about his participation in the perpetration of the Khojaly massacre in February 1992, stated that on February 25, 1992, during the attack by Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups operating under their command from the city of Khankandi to the densely populated civilian city of Khojaly, false promises were made according to a prearranged plan, assuring the surviving Azerbaijani civilians that they could safely pass through the Asgaran district towards the Aghdam district and on February 26, 1992, these armed groups, including Beglaryan himself, in order to subject Azerbaijanis to mass slaughter, ambushed and massacred nearly 200 civilians, mostly women, children, and the elderly, along the banks of the Gargarchay near Asgaran Fortress, by firing automatic weapons at them.
After the personal belongings of those killed by the criminal gang members were looted, their bodies were buried around Asgaran Fortress.
During the investigative action to verify the statement on the spot, Rashid Beglaryan visually showed the places where crimes were committed against civilians and provided detailed information about them.
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