Karabakh Armenian Charged With Taking Part In 1991 Massacre Pleads Not Guilty

Vagif Khachatrian, an ethnic Armenian from Nagorno-Karabakh accused of alleged genocide and the forced deportation of civilians, pleaded not guilty to all charges as a military court in Baku started his trial on October 17. Azerbaijan's military detained Khachatrian in late July while he was leaving the breakaway region for Armenia. Azerbaijani investigators say Khachatrian was among soldiers who killed 25 Azerbaijanis, wounded 14, and forced 358 residents of the village of Mesali to leave their homes in December 1991. Khachatrian's relatives insist the charges are groundless. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, click here.