Baku Court of Appeal upholds sentences of convicted Armenian nationals

Baku Court of Appeal upholds sentences of convicted Armenian nationals

The Baku Court of Appeal has upheld the sentences handed down by the Baku Military Court to a group of Armenian nationals convicted of war crimes and other serious offenses related to Armeniachr("39")s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

The appeals hearing was held on August 6 before a panel of judges chaired by Elmar Rahimov, with judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva participating. Reserve judge Ali Mammadov was also assigned to the case.

Each defendant was provided with interpreters in Armenian and Russian, as well as legal counsel to ensure their right to defense.

Representatives of the victims attended the hearing, alongside prosecutors from the Prosecutor Generalchr("39")s Office, including Abbas Abbasli, head of a department within the Directorate for Public Prosecution, and prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj Gasimova.

Representatives of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan observed the proceedings.

The court ruled that the February 5, 2026 verdict of the Baku Military Court would remain unchanged, rejecting the appeals filed by Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, David Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Madat Babayan, Melikset Pashayan, Garik Martirosyan, Erik Ghazaryan, Vasili Beglaryan, Levon Balayan, Davit Allahverdiyan and Gurgen Stepanyan.

Under the original verdict, Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan and David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan each received 20-year prison terms. Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Allahverdiyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Erik Ghazaryan to 15 years in prison.