Baku: Court hearings on the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and others, continued at the Baku Military Court. The individuals face charges of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and other offenses as a result of Armenia’s military aggression.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the hearings are presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, assisted by a panel including Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev. Each of the accused has been provided with an interpreter and defense attorneys. The proceedings are attended by the accused, their legal teams, victims, and prosecutors.
During the session, Bako Sahakyan was introduced to an additional defense attorney appointed at state expense, to which he expressed no objection. The accused were given the opportunity to make statements on the charges and other relevant circumstances.
Davit Manukyan, one of the accused, admitted to fighting against the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the First and Second Karabakh Wars. He recounted his military service and the responsibilities he held, particularly during the Second Karabakh War. Manukyan also discussed his retirement from military service in December 2021 and addressed the presence of weapons in his residence.
Other accused individuals, including Gurgen Stepanyan and Davit Allahverdiyan, provided their statements, detailing their military involvement and experiences. Melikset Pashayan recalled his participation in defending positions during conflicts, while Garik Matrosyan and Levon Balayan mentioned their roles in the wars.
Bako Sahakyan spoke about his role as ‘president’ of the self-styled regime under Armenia’s leadership and highlighted the opportunity he had to respond to questions during the investigation.
The session also involved the judicial examination of documents, with Vusal Aliyev, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, presenting historical documents affirming Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Karabakh and Armenia’s intentions to annex the region. Documents concerning illegal armed groups and their operations under Armenian leadership were also demonstrated.
The accused Arkady Ghukasyan responded to questions about his involvement with illegal armed formations and his associations with Armenia. He denied participation in certain activities but acknowledged the known involvement of others.
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 10, where the process will continue with further questioning of the accused. A total of 15 Armenian nationals are charged with various crimes, including military aggression and acts of terror against Azerbaijan. The proceedings involve significant figures allegedly connected to the crimes, such as Robert Sedraki Kocharyan and Serzh Azati Sargsyan.