Social media users pointed out the connection between the verdict against Karabakh leaders and the peace process.
The harsh sentence for the military-political leadership of Karabakh is due not only to accusations of war crimes, but also to Baku's intentions to use it in negotiations with Armenia, some social media users noted. Some believe that Azerbaijan, on the contrary, could release the convicted to demonstrate a desire for peace.
As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on February 5, former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, Foreign Minister David Babayan, former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and his deputy David Manukyan, and former Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanyan were sentenced by a military court in Baku to life imprisonment. Another 10 people were sentenced to terms ranging from 15 to 20 years in prison. Life and long prison terms for members of the military-political leadership of Karabakh became possible due to the inaction of the Armenian authorities, opposition representatives believe.
On October 31, 2025, the trial of the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh accused of war crimes concluded. The prosecution requested life imprisonment for Arayik Harutyunyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and David Manukyan, and 16 to 20 years in prison for the others. On December 4, the lawyers called the guilt of their clients unproven and called on the court to acquit them. On December 11, eight defendants in the case against the military-political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh made their closing statements in court in Baku. All defendants denied guilt.
On the "Caucasian Knot" Facebook page*, a post about the sentences against the military-political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh had garnered 123 comments by 12:35 p.m. Moscow time. The comments exchanged between users are virtually devoid of constructive discussion. Authors often resort to insults directed at both their opponents and the convicted, and post threats, often using obscene language.
Some users expressed the opinion that harsh sentences do not fit into the logic of peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"In vain, they should be released! Peace, so peace," wrote Rafail Adishev.
User Shah Mirza is confident that a harsh sentence will be another trump card for Azerbaijan in negotiations with Armenia. "It was Ilham Aliyev who ordered the court to make this decision. This will make it easy for Aliyev to bargain with those who demand their release." He recalled that four people had already been released, despite charges of terrorism and genocide. "If they were released for some reason, then these others will be released too," he said.
Gevorg Sujyan, David Davtyan, Vigen Euljekjyan, and Vagif Khachatryan were handed over to Armenian representatives at the Hakari Bridge and are now in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan announced on January 14. According to the Armenian National Security Service, the return of the prisoners was carried out as a practical result of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. All four were placed in Yerevan clinics after their return. Khachatryan was experiencing an exacerbation of his chronic heart disease and underwent surgery.
Some users opposite considered the sentence too lenient, believing that the crimes of which they were found guilty should be punished by death. Some, on the contrary, expressed satisfaction with the court's verdict.
"Finally, the truth has prevailed," wrote, in particular, Islam Rəhmanzadə.
Armen Arakelyants was outraged by the joyful comments from Azerbaijani users. "You're celebrating repression," he wrote, in part.
"What's unfair? These people committed war crimes, they themselves bravado-ladenly voiced them live on air, and now you're saying it's unfair?" Ca Oz.
"And when will Vardanyan's final verdict be issued?" - Elmira Aleksperova asked.
The Caucasian Knot" wrote that at a hearing in the Baku Military Court on December 18, 2025, the prosecutor proposed sentencing former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan to life imprisonment. The process does not meet the requirements of a fair trial, Vardanyan noted.
On December 30, 2025, it became known that the trial was postponed indefinitely, as the judicial panel went into deliberation to consider another criminal case against 15 Armenian citizens. "The next court hearing on Ruben Vardanyan's criminal case will take place after the judicial panel completes its deliberation," Report reported on the same day.
As a reminder, on August 8, 2025, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a declaration on the cessation of hostilities at a meeting in Washington. However, Aliyev and Pashinyan did not sign the peace agreement, but only initialed it, and most of the declaration's provisions contained vague wording, analysts noted. US President Donald Trump stated that the key issue that had prevented the signing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Zangezur Corridor, had been resolved. The Caucasian Knot has prepared a report entitled "Trump Route (TRIPP): Transport Corridor through Armenia."
In October 2025, the President of Azerbaijan announced the lifting of all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia. The Armenian authorities considered this an important step in opening regional communications. In early November 2025, a shipment of Russian grain arrived in Armenia via Azerbaijan for the first time since the 1990s. The Armenian government noted that this fulfilled one of the agreements reached in the United States, which contributed to strengthening peace between Yerevan and Baku. On February 4, at a meeting in the UAE, the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia discussed the initiated economic cooperation and agreed to seek opportunities to expand trade between the two countries.