The preliminary session of the "trial" in the case of the former leaders of the occupied Artsakh Republic held illegally in Azerbaijan was held in the military court of Baku.
According to Azerbaijani media, Ruben Vardanyan was provided with a lawyer and a Russian translator of his choice.
It is also reported that Ruben Vardanyan and his lawyer submitted two motions: to combine Vardanyan's case with the other 15 cases, to provide additional time to study the case materials.
The Azerbaijani prosecutor objected to the first petition, the second petition was accepted by the court. Ruben Vardanyan was given an additional 10 days to familiarize himself with the case materials.
It should be noted that Ruben Vardanyan issued a statement from Baku prison, stating that pressure was put on him, his lawyer and translator. "I officially announce the following. Since the first day of my arrest, I have not given any testimony, except for the first interrogation, during which I simply stated my name. All the records with my signature are fake. Those documents don't really exist. My lawyer and translator were forced to put their signatures on those documents."
