Armenpress: Appeal hearing continues in Baku for Armenian prisoners unlawfully

The Baku Court of Appeal has continued hearing appeals filed by Armenian prisoners who were unlawfully sentenced to imprisonment in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani media reported the development.

During the hearing, former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arkadi Ghukasyan addressed the court, rejecting all charges against him and stating that he did not plead guilty to any of them.

Vasili Beglaryan’s lawyer then asked the court to acquit his client and overturn the guilty verdict issued on February 5, 2026.

Beglaryan also addressed the court, stating that he did not plead guilty to any of the charges brought against him.

The lawyer for former Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan likewise asked the court to acquit his client and overturn the verdict against him. Sahakyan also stated that he did not plead guilty to any of the charges.

The next court hearing is scheduled for July 14.

On February 5, 2026, a court in Baku sentenced the Armenian prisoners to imprisonment on what Armenia describes as fabricated charges. The Azerbaijani court sentenced former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defence Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former deputy commander of the Defence Army Davit Manukyan, former Nagorno-Karabakh parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan and former foreign minister Davit Babayan to life imprisonment. Former Nagorno-Karabakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The remaining detainees — Madat Babayan, Melikset Pashayan, Garik Martirosyan, Davit Allahverdyan, Levon Balayan, Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Erik Ghazaryan — were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 19 years.