At the trial today of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan in Baku’s Military Court, prosecutors showcased who they claim are “victims” of Vardanyan’s tenure in office.

Those testifying, according to the Azerbaijan State News Agency Azertac, spoke about the injuries they sustained during the war and under what conditions. All demanded the maximum punishment for Ruben Vardanyan who faces numerous war crimes and terrorism charges, some of which carry a sentence of life imprisonment.

Those testifying also claimed that, with Vardanyan’s financial support, mining operations were carried out within the “liberated territories” of Azerbaijan during the 2020 Artsakh War.

Azertac reports that “people of Armenian origin” also gave testimony at today’s court session.

One such individual claimed that Vardanyan sponsored and financed groups of people aged 45-50 to fight against Azerbaijan.

“According to the witness, before Ruben Vardanyan had appeared in Karabakh, the issue of integration into Azerbaijan had been gaining ground among Armenian residents and people were seeking to establish a contact with Azerbaijan. Many were seriously thinking about living within Azerbaijan and obtaining citizenship,” Azertac writes.

(Note: Given that Baku has banned the international media from covering Vardanyan's trial, the day-to-day details of the proceedings come from the Azerbaijani press, from Vardanyan himself when he's allowed to contact family members, and his local lawyer Avraam Berman,)