Key points about the sentences of former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders
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The trial of fifteen former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, detained in the fall of 2023, has concluded in the Baku Military Court. They were charged with war crimes against Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people under 20 articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. On February 5, 2026, the court sentenced the defendants to life and other long-term imprisonment.
In the fall of 2023, after Azerbaijan's military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh ended and control over the territory was established, Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies initiated criminal prosecutions against former leaders and residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In early October 2023, former presidents Arkady Ghukasyan (1997–2007), Bako Sahakyan (2007–2020), Arayik Harutyunyan (2020–2023), and parliament speaker David Ishkhanyan were detained and transferred to Baku.
More details on the events in Nagorno-Karabakh are provided in the "Caucasian Knot" reports "Karabakh: Escalation of the Conflict or a New War?" and "The Beginning and End of the Unrecognized Republic of Artsakh".
Accused
The Baku Military Court has been hearing the case of 15 former leaders and residents of Nagorno-Karabakh since January 2025. Karabakh, detained in September-October 2023.
Among them:
former presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan;
former speaker of parliament David Ishkhanyan;
former foreign minister David Babayan;
former commander Levon (Leva) Mnatsakanyan;
as well as military personnel or combat participants David Manukyan, Gagik Martirosyan, Melikset Pashayan, David Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Stepanyan, Levon Balayan, Madat Babayan, Vasily Beglaran, and Erik Ghazaryan.
They are charged with 2,548 counts, combined into 1,389 criminal cases under 20 articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan 1. The main charges are:
100 (planning and waging an aggressive war),
102 (attack against internationally protected persons or entities), 103 (genocide),
105 (extermination),
106 (slavery),
107 (deportation or forced displacement of population),
109 (persecution),
110 (forcible detention),
112 (deprivation of liberty in contravention of international law),
113 (torture),
114 (mercenarism),
115 (violations of the laws or customs of war),
116 (violations of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts),
118 (robbery of war),
214 (terrorism),
214-1 (financing of terrorism),
218 (creation of a criminal community (organization),
228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of weapons, their components, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices),
270-1 (threats to aviation security),
278 (violent seizure of power or violent retention of power, violent change of the constitutional order of the state),
279 (creation of armed formations or groups not provided for by law).
Requested terms
On November 13, 2025, the prosecutor's office announced the demands:
Life imprisonment - for Arayik Harutyunyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and David Manukyan.
20 years – for Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Madat Babayan, and Melikset Pashayan (the requested sentence was based on their age – life imprisonment is not permitted for defendants over 65).
19 years – for Gagik Martirosyan.
18 years – for David Allahverdyan.
17 years – for Levon Balayan.
16 years – for Vasily Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Gazaryan.
When requesting sentences, the prosecutor's office emphasized that the defendants' guilt had been proven, although not all accomplices had appeared in court. 2.
All defendants refused to plead guilty.
Sentence
On February 5, 2026, Arayik Harutyunyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, and David Ishkhanyan were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Baku Military Court.
Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the first 10 years to be served in a maximum security correctional facility.
Madat Babayan, Melikset Pashayan was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
Garik Martirosyan and David Allahverdyan were sentenced to 18 years in prison, Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Vasily Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan were sentenced to 15 years in prison. 3.
The Trial
For more details on the trial progress, please see the "Caucasian Knot" report.
The case was submitted to the court on December 17, 2024. The court hearings were held behind closed doors. Information from the courtroom was disseminated by the state AZERTAC news agency. International observers and foreign media were denied access to the hearings.
The preparatory hearing was held on January 17, 2025, with the court providing translation and protection 4.
From January to June 2025, the accused and victims were questioned, and documents and video materials on the events of the late 1980s, the First Karabakh War, and the 44-day war of 2020 were reviewed.
Victims spoke of mass casualties, deportations, torture, and destruction in Shusha, Kelbajar, Fizuli, Aghdam, and other regions.
In March 2025, the European Parliament adopted resolution, calling the trial staged and demanding the release of those arrested. 5. In response, the Milli Majlis sent a letter of protest to the European Parliament, in which it emphasized that "those on trial were not prisoners of war, but criminals who violated Azerbaijani law." 6.
In April–May 2025, materials on the capture of Shusha, Serzh Sargsyan's visit to the front lines, and the shelling of villages were considered. 7.
In the summer of 2025, the testimony of victims and defendants about the mining of territories, the supply of weapons, and the torture of prisoners continued. 8.
On October 31, 2025, the court announced the completion of the investigation; the parties did not object to this decision. 9.
On December 4, 2025, the lawyers called the guilt of their clients unproven and called on the court to acquit them. At subsequent court hearings throughout December In 2025, the accused, in their final statements, stated that they do not consider themselves guilty of the war crimes charged against them.
Nuances in some of the accused's testimonies
Arayik Harutyunyan admitted making statements about missile strikes on Ganja in 2020 and apologized, but claims the decision was not his.
Bako Sahakyan confirmed participation in the operation to capture Shusha, but denied shooting at civilians.
Arkady Ghukasyan acknowledged awarding Armenian military leaders for the Shusha operation, but denied knowledge of the crimes.
David Babayan stated that he opposed the integration of the Armenian population into Azerbaijan.
Levon Mnatsakanyan and David Manukyan confirmed the participation of Armenian military personnel and the supply of weapons from Armenia.
Melikset Pashayan admitted to participating in the fighting and noted that civilians were involved in the looting. 10.
Notes
- The criminal case against Armenian war criminals has been sent to court // Report.az, 17.12.2024
- Prosecutors' proposals for punishing the accused were voiced at the trial of Armenian citizens // Report.az, 13.11.2025.
- A verdict was passed in the trial of Armenian citizens // AzerTag, 05.02.2026.
- The trials of Armenians accused of war crimes against Azerbaijan begin today // report.az, 17.01.2025.
- "Their only guilt is that they are Armenians": The European Parliament calls on Baku to release prisoners // JAMnews, 13.03.2025.
- The Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan sent a letter of protest to the European Parliament //Trend.az.15.03.2025.
- . Gurgen Stepanyan admitted the predominance of Armenians among the officers of his military unit // Trend.az, 11.04.2025. Levon Balayan admitted that he joined the armed formation created by Vardanyan // ARA.az, 05.09.2025.
- Madat Babayan named in court the names of the servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces who distinguished themselves with particular cruelty during the Khojaly genocide // Report.az, 04.09.2025.
- The Baku Military Court has completed the judicial investigation of the case of the former leaders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh // Report.az, October 31, 2025.
- Melikset Pashayan confessed to illegal military service in the previously occupied territories of Azerbaijan // report.az, April 10, 2025.