Baku court reviews documents on attacks before Shusha’s 1992 occupation

The Baku Military Court on Thursday examined documents related to attacks that preceded the 1992 occupation of the city of Shusha, as part of an ongoing trial against Armenian nationals accused of war crimes and other offenses, state media reported.

According to prosecutors, Shusha and surrounding villages were subjected to repeated rocket and artillery attacks by Armenian forces, resulting in civilian deaths, injuries, hostage-taking, and damage to critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and water pipelines. Criminal investigations were opened at the time into these incidents.

Key events reviewed included the Malibeyli and Gushchular massacres. The court also examined a protocol concerning an April 4, 1991 incident in which a helicopter carrying Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet deputies was shot at near Goytala, Shusha. The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing, injuring several passengers.

Another document addressed the downing of a civilian Mi-8T helicopter on January 28, 1992, by Armenian forces near the village of Karkijahan, Khankendi, while en route from Aghdam to Shusha. The crash near Gaybali killed all 42 people on board. Prosecutors said the remains were found burned and dismembered, with shrapnel recovered at the site.

The trial targets Armenian nationals charged with crimes against peace and humanity, including genocide, terrorism, aggressive war, and violations of international humanitarian law.

(Reporting by N.Tebrizli)