Baku: Madat Babayan, who confessed to participating in the Khojaly genocide, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison as part of an ongoing trial at the Baku Military Court involving Armenian citizens. The court proceedings have reached the stage where verdicts are being pronounced for the accused individuals.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Madat Babayan was charged with crimes that could warrant life imprisonment, and these charges were substantiated during the court investigation. However, the court could not impose a life sentence because Babayan had reached 65 years of age by the time the final court decision was issued, in compliance with the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Consequently, the court sentenced Babayan to 19 years of imprisonment.

It should be noted that the state prosecutors had initially proposed a 20-year sentence for Babayan. During the trial, Babayan admitted to his involvement in the Khojaly genocide as a member of the Armenian armed forces.

The trial continues as the Baku Military Court addresses the cases of Armenian citizens accused of a range of crimes, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and terrorism, among others. These crimes were allegedly committed during Armenia's military aggression and involve acts such as the preparation and waging of aggressive war, genocide, and violations of the laws and customs of war.