On July 31, the Baku Court of Appeal continued hearings regarding the appeals filed by several Armenian citizens convicted by the Baku Military Court. The defendants, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan, were previously sentenced for serious crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and the violent seizure of power during the conflict in the Garabagh region.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the court session was presided over by Judge Elmar Rahimov, with judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva in attendance. The defendants were provided with legal counsel and interpreters for Armenian and Russian to ensure their rights were upheld throughout the proceedings. Representatives of the victims and prosecutors from the Prosecutor General's Office, including Abbas Abbasli, Anar Alakbarov, and Sevinc Gasimova, were present. A representative from the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan also attended as an observer.
During the session, the defendants and their legal representatives presented their closing arguments, requesting the annulment of the first-instance court's verdict and seeking acquittal. The defendants maintained their innocence regarding the charges brought against them. Conversely, representatives of the victims and the state prosecutors argued that the initial verdict was lawful and well-founded, asserting that all facts were proven during the trial. They requested that the court uphold the original sentences without modification. Following the conclusion of arguments, Judge Elmar Rahimov declared the judicial review closed, and the panel retired to deliberate on the final decision.
The legal proceedings stem from the Baku Military Court's verdict issued on February 5, 2026. Under that ruling, Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment. Other defendants received lengthy prison terms ranging from 15 to 20 years for their roles in the illegal activities conducted in the Garabagh region.
