Baku: On May 26, the Baku Court of Appeal commenced its preliminary hearing 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. These individuals had been 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 an aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure of power, and numerous other offenses.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the court session was held under the chairmanship of Judge Elmar Rahimov, with the participation of Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva. Each person involved in the appellate criminal proceedings was provided with an interpreter in Armenian and Russian, as well as defense attorneys to ensure their right to defense.
The session was attended by representatives of the victims, prosecutors upholding the state prosecution - Abbas Abbasli, head of the State Prosecution Support Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, and Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj Gasimova, prosecutors of the same department. Rufat Mammadov, Head of the Administration of the Cabinet of Ministers, participated as the victim on behalf of the Azerbaijani state.
During the session, the composition of the court and the interpreters were introduced to the participants, and the identities and background information of the convicts were verified. Their procedural rights and obligations were explained, and the parties stated they had no objections to the composition of the court or the interpreters.
Prosecutor Anar Alakbarov stated that the requirements of criminal procedural legislation were complied with when filing the appeals. He noted that the subject of the preparatory court hearing is the possibility of scheduling the case for an appellate review. The prosecution believes that the procedural conditions for initiating appellate proceedings have been met, and the case can be scheduled for trial without requiring additional evidence.
After discussing the positions of the parties and the motions submitted, the court retired for deliberation. Following the deliberation, the decisions were announced, and the criminal case was scheduled for appellate review. The court hearing will be held on June 2 without conducting a judicial investigation or examining additional evidence.
According to the verdict of the Baku Military Court dated February 5, 2026, the sentences for the individuals ranged from 15 years to life imprisonment, depending on their involvement in the crimes.