Former separatist leader Ghukasyan pleads not guilty at Baku appeals hearing PHOTO

Former self-proclaimed Karabakh separatist leader Arkadi Ghukasyan told the Baku Court of Appeal that he does not consider himself guilty of the charges against him as hearings continued on appeals filed by Armenian nationals convicted over crimes related to Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan.

The appellants include Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and several others who were sentenced by the Baku Military Court on February 5, 2026, AZERTAC reports.

According to the verdict, the defendants were found guilty of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the planning and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, the forcible seizure of power, and numerous other offenses arising from Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan.

The appeal hearing was chaired by Judge Elmar Rahimov, with Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva serving on the panel, while Judge Ali Mammadov participated as the reserve judge.

The court provided the appellants with interpreters 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 from the Prosecutor General's Office, including Abbas Abbasli, Head of the Department for the Maintenance of Public Prosecution in the Courts of Appeal, along with prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj Gasimova.

At the start of the session, Arkadi Ghukasyan resumed the statement he had begun during the previous hearing, telling the court that he did not consider himself guilty of the charges brought against him.

Defense lawyer Vasili Beglaryan subsequently asked the court to overturn the February 5, 2026 verdict and acquit his client. Beglaryan, addressing the court himself afterward, also said he did not consider himself guilty of the charges.

Lawyers representing Bako Sahakyan likewise requested that the appellate court overturn the lower court's ruling, acquit their client, and uphold the appeal.

In his own remarks, Sahakyan also stated that he did not consider himself guilty of the charges outlined in the criminal case.

The next hearing has been scheduled for July 14.

Under the Baku Military Court's February 5 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, 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.