In Baku, a high-profile trial is underway against Ruben Vardanyan, the former so-called "state minister" in Khankendi and one of the key representatives of Karabakh separatism. At the last session, words were heard in the court that did not leave anyone indifferent: the victims of mine terror in Armenia told about their personal tragedies, accusing Vardanyan and his colleagues of complicity in the deaths and suffering of civilians.

Witness: "On this day I buried both sons"One of the witnesses was a resident of the Terter district, whose two sons  civilians died as a result of an Armenian mine explosion. His speech in court was short but poignant.

"My sons just went to check our field. They were not military. They didn't shoot, they didn't fight. That day I buried both of them. And I want the guilty to be held accountable. I'm here for justice, not for revenge.''

Protection position and progress

Vardanyan's lawyers insist on his "humanitarian mission" and the absence of direct connection with military operations. However, the testimony of the witnesses and the documents presented by the prosecutor's office point to the opposite to his active participation in making decisions that affected the safety of the civilian population.

Mine terror;an invisible but deadly threat.After the end of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan faced the monstrous legacy of the occupation tens of thousands of mines left behind by Armenian forces continue to take lives and maim people. According to official sources, more than 300 people, including civilians, children, rescuers and journalists, have died as a result of mine explosions since 2020.

This court is not just a legal procedure. For many families in Azerbaijan, Vardanyan became a symbol of pain, loss and irresponsibility of the separatists. And every new meeting is a chance to be heard.Witnesses continue to tell their stories: someone lost a son, someone lost a leg, someone is afraid to let the child out into the street. All they need is justice and responsibility.

Madina Mammadova\\EDnews