Baku: The appellate review process for complaints filed by Armenian citizens convicted of various serious offenses by the Baku Military Court continued at the Baku Court of Appeal. The appellants, found guilty of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, and other offenses related to Armenia's military actions against Azerbaijan, began presenting their arguments on June 9.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the court session was presided over by a judicial panel chaired by Judge Elmar Rahimov, alongside Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva, with Ali Mammadov serving as a reserve judge. The appellants, including prominent figures such as Arayik Harutyunyan and Bako Sahakyan, were provided with interpreters and legal counsel to ensure their defense rights. The proceedings were attended by representatives of the victims, prosecutors, and observers from the Ombudsman's Office.
During the session, requested document translations were provided to some defendants, and Davit Ishkhanyan sought access to the official transcript of a previous court session. The presiding judge explained the formal procedures required to access such documents and clarified there were no restrictions on case material access. The court decided to proceed to oral arguments based on the appeals' grounds and relevant legal articles.
The defense was initially given the floor, but most attorneys requested additional preparation time, except for Arayik Harutyunyan's lawyer, who proceeded with his argument for acquittal. The court then declared a recess, allowing defendants to meet privately with their legal representatives. Following the break, the court granted such consultation requests and set conditions for confidential meetings.
Harutyunyan's defense lawyer, Anar Mammadov, argued for acquittal, a position Harutyunyan endorsed. The court scheduled the next hearing for June 16. The initial verdicts, issued on February 5, 2026, included life sentences for Harutyunyan and others, and varying prison terms for additional defendants.