Madat Babayan admits: Looting in Khojaly continued from February 26 to March 8, 1992

The testimony given by the accused Madat Babayan during the preliminary investigation at the Baku Military Court was announced on September 4, Olaylar informs.

A part of his testimony during the preliminary investigation was related to the Khojaly genocide that occurred in February 1992 and subsequent events.

In his testimony, Babayan noted that on February 24, Arkady Shirinyan, speaking in front of the then 3 divisions, said that the next day, that is, on February 25, 1992, at around midnight, they would launch an attack and commit a massacre against the Azerbaijani civilian population living in Khojaly. They began preparations in accordance with the order of commander Arkady Shirinyan.

Before the attack, the city of Khojaly was subjected to continuous fire from artillery and reactive multiple launch rocket systems positioned in the high mountainous areas in the direction of Khankandi, using cannons, mortars, and other types of shells. After approximately 30-40 minutes of continuous artillery, mortar, and "BM-21-GRAD" system fire, they entered the city of Khojaly around midnight on the night of February 25-26.

After entering the city, they began firing at civilians they encountered in Khojaly using automatic weapons, machine guns, and grenade launchers from both sides, and started burning houses. Some residents, barefoot and carrying infant children, fled by crossing the Gargar River near Khojaly city toward the nearby mountains and in the direction of the Shelli village in Aghdam district. Those fleeing were shot by other Armenian armed forces who had set up posts around the city in advance and were waiting there to shoot and kill the fleeing population. In Khojaly city, houses were looted, burned, women were raped, people were subjected to numerous tortures, and tanks and combat vehicles ran over people, crushing them.

Babayan also continuously fired his automatic weapon at everyone at that time based on orders, regardless of whether they were women, men, elderly, or aged. Arkady Shirinyan and other commanders ordered that special atrocities be committed there. In general, since the city of Khojaly had been under siege for a long time, residents could not leave the city, and during the attack, only a very small number of people were able to escape from there.

The accused stated that looting in Khojaly continued from February 26 to March 8, 1992.

The trial continues for Armenian citizens accused of crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, acts of terrorism, the preparation and execution of aggressive war, genocide, violations of war laws and rules, forcible seizure and retention of power, as well as financing terrorism, among other offenses stemming from Armeniachr("39")s military aggression.