In Baku, hearings continued in the open trial concerning the criminal cases against citizens of the Republic of Armenia — Araik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others — accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity resulting from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan. The charges include war crimes, preparation and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and numerous other serious offenses.
At the latest session of the Baku Military Court, chaired by Judge Zeynal Agayev with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge — Gunel Samedova), each defendant was provided with a translator for their language of proficiency and legal counsel.
The defendants, their lawyers, several victims and their legal successors, representatives of the victims, and state prosecutors were in attendance.
The hearing continued with the prosecutors’ closing statements.
Tugay Rahimli, Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, emphasized that Armenia’s military aggression targeted not only Azerbaijani Armed Forces personnel, but also major cities and districts such as Ganja, Barda, Aghjabedi, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Zardab, Kurdamir, Gabala, and others.
He stated that the evidence examined in court confirmed that Armenia had occupied the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan and committed crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and numerous other grave offenses during and after its military aggression.
Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev and the head of the department of the Prosecutor General’s Office for public prosecution, Nasir Bayramov, then presented sentencing proposals for each defendant based on the crimes attributed to them.
Prosecutors also suggested excluding certain charges for some defendants or reclassifying some acts under less severe legal provisions.
It was noted that although Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Madat Babayan were charged with crimes punishable by life imprisonment — charges confirmed during the trial — Azerbaijani law prohibits imposing life sentences on individuals who have reached the age of 65 by the time of the final verdict.
Sentencing requests
• Araik Vladimirovich Harutyunyan — guilty of planning, preparing, initiating, and conducting aggressive war; attacks on internationally protected persons; genocide; extermination; enslavement; forced displacement; persecution; enforced disappearances; unlawful deprivation of liberty in violation of international law; torture; mercenary activities; violations of the laws and customs of war; violations of international humanitarian law; looting; intentional murder; illegal entrepreneurship; terrorism and its financing; creation of a criminal organization; unlawful acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives; actions endangering aviation security; violent seizure and retention of power; violent alteration of the constitutional order; creation of illegal armed groups.
Requested sentence: life imprisonment, to be served in a prison facility. Sentence to be calculated from 3 October 2023.
• Levon Genrikh Mnatsakanyan — similar charges as above.
Requested sentence: life imprisonment, counted from 29 September 2023.
• Davit Azati Manukyan — similar charges including genocide.
Requested sentence: life imprisonment, counted from 27 September 2023.
• Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan — similar charges, plus attempted assassination of a state official.
Requested sentence: life imprisonment, counted from 3 October 2023.
• Davit K. Babayan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: life imprisonment, counted from 28 September 2023.
• Arkadi Arshavir Ghukasyan — similar charges including attempted assassination of a state official.
Requested sentence: 20 years, first 10 years in prison, remaining term in a high-security correctional facility. Sentence counted from 3 October 2023.
• Bako Saaki Sahakyan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: 20 years, same conditions as above. Sentence from 3 October 2023.
• Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: 20 years, same conditions. Sentence from 21 September 2023.
• Garik Grigori Martirosyan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: 19 years, first 10 years in prison, remainder in strict-regime facility. Sentence from 21 September 2023.
• David N. Allahverdyan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: 18 years, same conditions. Sentence from 21 September 2023.
• Levon Romik Balayan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: 17 years, same conditions. Sentence from 21 September 2023.
• Vasiliy Ivani Beglaryan — similar charges including war looting.
Requested sentence: 16 years, same conditions. Sentence from 26 September 2023.
• Gurgen Gomeri Stepanyan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: 16 years, same conditions. Sentence from 21 September 2023.
• Erik Roberti Kazaryan — similar charges.
Requested sentence: 16 years, same conditions. Sentence from 27 September 2023.
Prosecutors also petitioned the court to rule on the physical evidence according to the Criminal Procedure Code of Azerbaijan and requested that pretrial detention measures remain unchanged until the verdict enters into force.
Representatives of the victims stated that the charges had been fully confirmed by the evidence examined during nearly a year of judicial proceedings, including witness testimony and expert findings. They asked the court to issue a verdict consistent with the prosecutors’ proposals.
The trial will continue on November 27.
