During the “Imnemnimi” podcast, Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan expressed concerns about the fate of the Artsakh political and military leadership now facing prosecution in Baku. He said he suspects that “the list may have included people who ended up there not without Armenia’s involvement.”
Sargsyan remarked that these leaders had no choice: either flee to Armenia and risk dishonor, or choose self-sacrifice.
“They chose self-sacrifice,” he said.
According to Sargsyan, there had been a possibility of evacuating them by air, similar to what was done for President Samvel Shahramanyan and several others.
“It’s very strange why, for example, Azerbaijani authorities would allow the current Defense Army commander to cross the border and reach Armenia, but detain a minister who had been out of office for two years,” Sargsyan added.
In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade and the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population from Artsakh, Azerbaijan captured former Artsakh Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, along with ex-State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, Foreign Minister David Babayan, and several other former leaders. They face fabricated charges that may lead to life sentences. The sham trial in Baku began on January 17.
