Baku Court of Appeals rejects appeals filed by convicted Armenian nationals

On August 6, an open court hearing continued at the Baku Court of Appeals regarding 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 of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

The court hearing at the Baku Court of Appeals was held under the chairmanship of Judge Elmar Rahimov, with the participation of judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva. Each person involved in the criminal case and undergoing appellate proceedings was provided with interpreters in the languages they understand, as well as lawyers to ensure their rights of defence.

Representatives of the victims, as well as prosecutors representing the state prosecution - Abbas Abbasli, head of a department at the Department for Maintaining State Prosecution of the Prosecutor General’s Office, and prosecutors of the same department, Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj Gasimova participated in the court hearing.

Representatives of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan attended the hearing as observers.

The court announced its decision on the defendants' appeals.

The court decision stated that the verdict issued by the Baku Military Court on February 5, 2026, regarding Arayik Vladimirovich Harutyunyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Klimovich Babayan, Levon Henrikhovich Mnatsakanyan, Arkadi Arshavirovich Ghukasyan, David Azatovich Manukyan, Davit Rubenovich Ishkhanyan, Madat Arakely Babayan, Melikset Vladimirovich Pashayan, Garik Grigorievich Martirosyan, Erik Robertovich Ghazaryan, Vasili Ivanovich Beglaryan, Levon Romikovich Balayan, Davit Nelsonovich Allahverdyan, and Gurgen Homerosovich Stepanyan shall remain unchanged concerning the appeals filed against the criminal case.

It should be recalled that, according to the February 5, 2026 verdict of the Baku Military Court, 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 Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, while Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan were sentenced to 15 years in prison.