BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 3. On July 7, the Baku
Court of Appeal continued hearing the appeals filed by Armenian
citizens, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako
Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan and
others, who were convicted by the Baku Military Court of crimes
against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the planning and
waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and
customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, the forcible
seizure of power, and numerous other crimes resulting from
Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan.
The court session was held under the chairmanship of Judge Elmar
Rahimov of the Baku Court of Appeal, with Judges Emin Mehdiyev and
Mehriban Garayeva participating (reserve judge Ali Mammadov). Each
of the persons subject to the criminal appeal proceedings was
provided with an interpreter in the language they
understood—Armenian and Russian—as well as legal counsel to ensure
their defense.
Representatives of the victims and the prosecutors representing
the state prosecution—Abbas Abbasli, head of a department of the
General Prosecutor's Office's Department for Public Prosecution,
and department prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinc Gasimova—also
attended the hearing.
At the outset of the hearing, the presiding judge stated that
the translation of the motion submitted through defendant Davit
Ishkhanyan's defense lawyer at the previous hearing had been
provided to the court.
The court proceedings then continued.
Addressing the court, David Babayan, as at the previous hearing,
stated that he did not consider himself guilty of the charges
brought against him.
The court was informed that defendant Davit Ishkhanyan's
petitions had been submitted through his defense lawyer. He also
requested a meeting with his lawyer. The presiding judge stated
that arrangements would be made for him to hold a confidential
meeting with his defense lawyer.
Prosecutor Anar Alakbarov, representing the state prosecution,
stated that the prosecution had already expressed its position on
the issue raised by the defense. It was noted that the substance of
the submitted appeal was essentially identical to Davit
Ishkhanyan's statement and the appeal filed by his defense lawyer.
Therefore, the claims alleging any violation of rights were
unfounded.
The prosecutor requested that the court accept the two
paragraphs as an attachment to the appeal and examine them together
with the appeal.
Representatives of the victims stated that they agreed with the
prosecutor's position.
The court then announced its ruling on the motion. Under the
court's decision, the motion was dismissed because the issues
raised therein were not related to the subject matter or substance
of the case under consideration at the current stage of the
proceedings.
The hearing was then adjourned to allow defendant Davit
Ishkhanyan to hold a confidential meeting with his defense
lawyer.
After the recess, defense lawyers for defendant Arkadi Ghukasyan
presented their arguments, requesting that the court overturn the
verdict against him and render a verdict of acquittal.
The next court hearing is scheduled for July 10.
Under the Baku Military Court's verdict of February 5, 2026,
Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, Davit
Ishkhanyan, and David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years'
imprisonment; Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan to 19 years;
Garik Martirosyan to 18 years; Davit Allahverdiyan and Levon
Balayan to 16 years; and Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and
Erik Ghazaryan to 15 years' imprisonment.
