Baku: The Baku Court of Appeal has upheld the verdict against several Armenian citizens, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, and Bako Sahakyan, for crimes against peace and humanity. These individuals were previously convicted by the Baku Military Court for their involvement in Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, which included planning and waging an aggressive war, genocide, and other war-related offenses.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the court session was presided over by Judge Elmar Rahimov, with Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva also present. A Reserve Judge, Ali Mammadov, participated as well. The court ensured that all individuals involved in the appellate proceedings had access to interpreters in Armenian and Russian, as well as defense counsel. Representatives of the victims and state prosecutors, including Abbas Abbasli from the Prosecutor General's Office, were also present.

The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan attended the proceedings as observers. The court's decision was to maintain the initial verdict issued by the Baku Military Court on February 5, 2026, which sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan and others to varying terms of imprisonment.

The original court ruling sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and David Babayan to life imprisonment. Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan received 20-year sentences, while Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years each. Garik Martirosyan received an 18-year sentence, and Davit Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan were sentenced to 16 years. Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan received 15-year sentences.

The Baku Court of Appeal had resumed hearing the appeals of the convicted individuals, with the examination of the appeals concluding on July 31. The judges took time to deliberate on the verdict, which led to the confirmation of the previous sentences.