Terrorism financing trial begins: Ruben Vardanyan faces charges in Baku court

The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, accused of terrorism, financing terrorism, and a litany of other grave charges, commenced today at the Baku Court Complex.

The proceedings are being presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev of the Baku Military Court.

According to the information the state prosecutor presented the charges against Ruben Vardanyan during the previous court session. The accusations span a wide range of offenses under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including planning, preparing, initiating, or waging an aggressive war (Article 100), deportation or forcible transfer of population (Article 107), persecution (Article 109), unlawful imprisonment in violation of international law (Article 112), torture (Article 113), mercenarism (Article 114), violations of the laws and customs of war (Article 115), and breaches of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts (Article 116).

Vardanyan also stands accused of terrorism (Article 214), financing terrorism (Article 214-1), organizing a criminal community or organization (Article 218), illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of weapons, components, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices (Article 228), acts threatening aviation security (Article 270-1), violent seizure or retention of power, and violent change of the constitutional order of the state (Article 278).

Furthermore, the charges include the creation of armed formations or groups not provided for by the legislation (Article 279), illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Article 318), and other articles of the Criminal Code.