Baku: On July 31, 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-convicted by the Baku Military Court for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes resulting from Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan. These charges include the preparation and waging of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and the forcible seizure of power.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the court session was presided over by Judge Elmar Rahimov of the Baku Court of Appeal, with Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva. Reserve Judge Ali Mammadov also participated. To ensure the right to a defense, interpreters were provided for all individuals subject to appellate proceedings, facilitating communication in their respective spoken languages-Armenian and Russian. Defense counsel was also made available for the defendants.
The session saw attendance from representatives of the victims and state prosecutors, 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. Additionally, employees of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan were present as observers.
The court proceeding continued with the defendants' rebuttals. Bako Sahakyan exercised his right to rebuttal, urging the court to overturn the first instance court's verdict and acquit him. Other defendants, such as Vasily Beglaryan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, along with their defense attorneys, also rebutted the prosecution's statements. They requested that the court overturn the initial verdict and acquit the defendants, maintaining they did not plead guilty to the charges against them.
Representatives of the victims responded by affirming the legality and justification of the first instance court's verdict, asserting that all case facts were proven during the trial. They requested the court uphold the verdict unchanged. Prosecutors representing the public prosecution echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the first instance court's verdict was lawful and well-founded. They argued that the evidence presented in the appeals did not justify canceling or altering the verdict, and thus, requested the court dismiss the appeals and maintain the Baku Military Court's conviction.
Presiding Judge Elmar Rahimov announced the completion of the court hearing on the appeals. The appellate court panel retired to deliberate on the Armenian citizens' appeals and reach a verdict.
Under the Baku Military Court's verdict 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 received 20-year sentences, Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan 19 years, Garik Martirosyan 18 years, Davit Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan 16 years, and Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan were sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.