Baku, August 6, AZERTAC
On August 6, the Baku Court of Appeal continued judicial proceedings on the appeals filed by citizens of the Republic of Armenia—Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others—who were convicted by the Baku Military Court for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes resulting from Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, including the preparation and waging of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, and numerous other offenses.
At the court session, presided over by Judge Elmar Rahimov of the Baku Court of Appeal, joined by Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva (Reserve Judge Ali Mammadov also participated), all individuals subject to appellate proceedings were provided with interpreters in their respective spoken languages—Armenian and Russian—as well as defense counsel to ensure their right to a defense.
The court session was attended by representatives of the victims and state prosecutors representing the public prosecution, including Abbas Abbasli, Head of Department at the State Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, and department prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj Gasimova.
Employees of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan also attended the proceedings as observers.
The court announced the verdict on the appeals of the accused individuals.
The court ruled to uphold the February 5, 2026 Baku Military Court verdict concerning the criminal case against Harutyunyan Arayik Vladimiri, Sahakyan Bako Sahaki, Babayan Davit Klimin, Mnatsakanyan Levon Henrikhi, Ghukasyan (Ghukasyan) Arkadi Arshaviri, Manukyan David Azati, Ishkhanyan Davit Rubeni, Babayan Madat Arakeli, Pashayan Melikset Vladimiri, Martirosyan Garik Grigory, Ghazaryan Eric Roberti, Beglaryan Vasily Ivani, Balayan Levon Romiki, Allahverdiyan Davit Nelsoni and Stepanyan Gurgen Homerosin.
Under the verdict of the Baku Military Court dated 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, Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan to 15 years' imprisonment.