Prosecutors in Baku have demanded life imprisonment for several former political and military leaders of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), including ex-president Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, ex-foreign minister Davit Babayan, and Davit Manukyan, according to Haqqin.az .
For some defendants who are over 65 years old—specifically former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Madat Babayan—prosecutors requested 20 years in prison, with the first 10 years to be served under strict regime, as reported by Minval.az .
Other Armenian detainees on trial face sentences ranging from 16 to 19 years, also with the first decade under strict-regime imprisonment. These individuals include Garik Martirosyan, David Alaverdyan, Levon Balayan, Vasil Beglaryan, Gurgen Ghazaryan, Erik Ghazaryan, and others.
Prosecutors further requested that all detainees remain in custody until the verdicts become final.
The next court hearing is scheduled for November 27.
In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its Armenian population, Azerbaijan captured numerous former officials, including presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, former state minister Ruben Vardanyan, and ex-foreign minister Davit Babayan. They face fabricated charges that could result in life imprisonment. The politically motivated trial began in Baku on January 17.
