Baku court dismisses motion in appeals hearing for convicted Armenian figures PHOTO

The Baku Court of Appeal has dismissed a defense motion during appellate proceedings involving a group of Armenian nationals, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, who are challenging their convictions handed down by the Baku Military Court on charges stemming from Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan. 

The defendants were convicted of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the planning and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, the forcible seizure of power, and numerous other offenses, AZERTAC reports.

The hearing was chaired by Judge Elmar Rahimov, with Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva sitting on the panel. Reserve Judge Ali Mammadov also participated in the proceedings.

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

The hearing was attended by representatives of the victims and prosecutors representing the state prosecution, including Abbas Abbasli, head of a department within the General Prosecutor's Office's Department for Public Prosecution, and department prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinc Gasimova.

At the opening of the session, the presiding judge informed the court that a translation of the motion submitted at the previous hearing through Davit Ishkhanyan's defense lawyer had been received.

During the proceedings, David Babayan reiterated his position from the previous hearing, stating that he did not consider himself guilty of the charges brought against him.

The court was also informed that additional motions had been submitted on behalf of Davit Ishkhanyan through his defense lawyer. Ishkhanyan requested a confidential meeting with his legal counsel, and the presiding judge said arrangements would be made to facilitate the meeting.

Addressing the court, state prosecutor Anar Alakbarov said the prosecution had already presented its position on the defense's arguments. He noted that the substance of the latest submission was essentially identical to both Ishkhanyan's earlier statement and the appeal filed by his lawyer, arguing that claims alleging violations of the defendant's rights were unfounded.

Alakbarov requested that the court accept the two additional paragraphs as an attachment to the appeal and examine them together with the main appeal.

Representatives of the victims supported the prosecution's position.

Following deliberations, the court dismissed the motion, ruling that the issues raised were unrelated to the subject matter of the case at the current stage of the appellate proceedings.

The hearing was then adjourned to allow Ishkhanyan to hold a confidential meeting with his lawyer.

After the recess, defense lawyers representing Arkadi Ghukasyan presented their appeal, asking the court to overturn his conviction and issue an acquittal.

The next hearing has been scheduled for July 10.

Under the Baku Military Court's verdict of February 5, 2026, 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, while 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.

By Vafa Guliyeva