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, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, 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. These charges include the preparation and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and violent seizure of power.
During the court session held at the Baku Court of Appeal 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 interpreters in Armenian and Russian, as well as defense attorneys to ensure their right to defense.
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 - attended the session. Rufat Mammadov, Head of the Administration of the Cabinet of Ministers, participated as the victim on behalf of the Azerbaijani state.
The composition of the court and the interpreters were introduced to the participants, and the personal identities and background information of the convicts were verified. Their procedural rights and obligations were also explained. The parties expressed 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 at this stage, 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.
After discussing the positions of the parties and the motions submitted, the court retired for deliberation. Following 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, 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 Gazaryan 15 years.