'Babayan beat me for my national identity,' says Khojaly survivor

Yashar Almammadov, a resident of Khojaly, shared harrowing details of the torture he endured while in Armenian captivity during the First Karabakh War.

Almammadov testified today as a victim in the ongoing trial of former representatives of the separatist regime in Karabakh.

He stated that he was subjected to abuse by the defendant Madat Babayan.

Almammadov recounted that he was born in Khojaly in 1956 and lived there with his family until the town was occupied. "On February 25, 1992, Armenian forces attacked Khojaly. Countless civilians were killed," he said.

According to his testimony, Almammadov was captured on February 27. In court, he identified Madat Babayan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arkadi Ghukasyan.

"Madat Babayan and his gang tortured me. While I was in captivity, Babayan approached, looked me in the eye and said, chr("39")Youchr("39")re a Turk,chr("39") then began to kick me and hurl insults," Almammadov recalled.

It is worth noting that Yashar Almammadov was returned to the Azerbaijani side on March 2, 1992, in a severely wounded condition.