BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 10. The appeal hearing
for Armenian citizens convicted by the Baku Military Court of
crimes committed during Armenia's military aggression against
Azerbaijan continued on July 10 at the Baku Court of Appeal.
The defendants, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan,
Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan
and others, were convicted of crimes against peace and humanity,
war crimes, including planning and waging a war of aggression,
genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism,
financing terrorism, the violent seizure of power and other
offenses.
The hearing was presided over by Judge Elmar Rahimov, with
Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva on the panel and Judge
Ali Mammadov serving as the alternate judge.
Each defendant was provided with an interpreter in Armenian or
Russian, as well as legal counsel.
The hearing was also attended by representatives of the victims
and state prosecutors Abbas Abbasli, head of a department within
the Prosecutor General's Office's Directorate for Public
Prosecution, along with prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj
Gasimova.
Arkadi Ghukasyan, who had begun his statement at the previous
hearing, continued his remarks and pleaded not guilty to all
charges against him.
Vasili Beglaryan's defense attorney then asked the court to
overturn the Feb. 5, 2026, verdict and acquit his client.
Beglaryan also addressed the court, pleading not guilty to the
charges against him.
A lawyer representing Bako Sahakyan likewise requested that the
court acquit his client.
Sahakyan's second defense attorney asked the court to overturn
the Feb. 5, 2026, verdict, acquit his client and uphold the
appeal.
In his statement, Sahakyan also pleaded not guilty to all
charges.
The next hearing is scheduled for July 14.
Under the Baku Military Court's Feb. 5, 2026, verdict, 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 in prison;
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
in prison.
