Davit Ishkhanyan, the former chairman of the National Assembly of Artsakh, who is illegally detained in Baku prison, has again sent a message from Baku prison.

He noted: “The next stage of the peace trial can be considered finished. The appellate court went to a consultation, but, as we said in court, it is clear to all of us that that decision was made a long time ago, and it is not the panel of judges that makes that decision. The judicial panel will only announce and publish what has already been decided.

Our last speeches were very interesting and unique. As I mentioned, they were quite worthy speeches.

As in the court of first instance, in this case, both the representatives of the prosecutor’s office and the judge unnecessarily intervened and interrupted some people, including me. They didn’t let me present my speech completely, but it’s not a problem. We all understand that this is a political trial, and we declare very clearly there that this is a political trial. It cannot be otherwise.

Perhaps the greatest assessment of this trial was given by one of the defenders, who warned in the first instance that they would be ashamed in front of their descendants years later. And this time he delivered a very special speech to the judicial panel, telling them to not defile the court. He said that our victories were defiled by this trial.

In other words, our general behavior is already pushing them to admit that they had serious gaps in the judicial process. And, as I pointed out in my last speech at the trial court, in fact, politically and morally, the prosecution and the judicial panel, which are the same team, did not actually win the case. We, as the defendants, were the winners.

We gave worthy counterattacks to the arguments and false claims that were related to our people’s past, present, honor issues, false information about our people, fabricated justifications, behavior that undermines national self-love, and falsified history.

And in such a situation, it should be said that this is a field of struggle where the law of force applies. In other words, there is no force of law, we are the ones who decide. Judges and the judicial panel are guided by this principle and do what they want.

It is understandable for us, but, as we mentioned, this is secondary for us, and we just provide the formal side in order to reach the international court.

So, we can consider this trial as a failed trial for the judging party.

The news, as always, is presented one-sided, manipulated and not in accordance with reality.
Every once in a while, I even wonder where are the journalists of the “Freedom” media, the radio station, the freedom-seeking journalists. We have been waiting for almost two years for them to appear in the courtroom. It is not difficult for them to touch the walls of the White House or the walls of the Kremlin, or the walls of any European country, including the famous walls of Brussels, but we never saw them inside the courtrooms of Baku to present to the world who they are judging, why they are judging and how they are judging.

Anyway, let me introduce a little subtlety. Back on July 17, I submitted a motion to the court so that the prosecution, the prosecutor’s office, taking into account the situation, withdraws the claim, and the criminal case is terminated, this so-called criminal prosecution is stopped.

It was rejected on the spot. Naturally, I presented that the young staff present should consult with their superior, and the superior with his superior, but it was rejected on the spot.

On the 31st of the month, during our last session, in my last speech, I addressed the judge and asked, presented a proposal to the judge, so that by presenting the proposal with the content of my petition, using the moment, applying the possibility of my proposal, the judicial collegium consults with those who are necessary, with those who make decisions.

Taking into account the delicate political situation between the two countries, the two peoples, the role of foreign political actors and as a future-oriented investment, stop this criminal prosecution and dismiss the case.

What they will decide is another question, but at least such a proposal has been presented.

I have to say once again that during the nearly two-year-long trial of these two instances, the defense never received either the indictment, the indictment, or the verdict of the first instance.

Stay well. We will still say our word.”

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The Court of Appeal of Baku has left unchanged the judgments made on February 5 regarding the former military and political leaders of Nagorno Karabakh and other Armenians illegally detained in Baku.

Let’s remind that on February 5, 2026, the Baku court sentenced the Armenian prisoners to prison on false charges. The Azerbaijani court has sentenced former NK President Arayik Harutyunyan, former defense army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former defense army deputy commander Davit Manukyan, former NK parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan and former foreign minister Davit Babayan to life imprisonment. Former NK presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The other illegally detained persons: Madat Babayan, Melikset Pashayan, Garik Martirosyan, Davit Allahverdyan, Levon Balayan, Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Erik Ghazaryan were sentenced to 15 to 19 years in prison.

It should be noted that the fabricated criminal case against the former State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan was investigated in separate proceedings. On February 17, it became known that the Baku court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.

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The Government of Armenia has decided the fate of the strategically important company “Electrical Networks of Armenia” (HETC), it will become the property of the state and will be transferred to trusteeship.

Prime Minister during the executive session on August 6 Nikol Pashinyan officially announced the nationalization of the company and then the transfer to concession management, but did not specify to whom or to which structure it will be entrusted.

The process of nationalization started last year, when the state terminated the license of the HEP and appointed a temporary manager.

Recently, the government recognized the company as an overriding public interest in a short public hearing lasting only 14 minutes. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure justifies this with the imperative to protect the public interest, while the company’s former management has stated that it will continue to challenge this process.

The process of nationalization of HEP began after the owner of the company, a Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan defended the church and Catholicos Karekin II in the most acute moment of the conflict with the political authorities. 

After that, Karapetyan was arrested on charges of calling for usurpation of power, and in November 2025, the Public Services Regulatory Commission deprived the company of its electricity distribution license.

Falsification of electricity indicators, underperformance of investment projects and provision of risky loans were cited as the basis.

Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that the company served narrow interests for a long time and was burdened with loans, so nationalization will not become an additional burden for the state budget. The process is also accompanied by the criminal case initiated against the head of “Tashir” group, businessman Samvel Karapetyan. he is currently under house arrest.

In the international legal arena, the state has also strengthened its position: in June 2026, the Stockholm Arbitration Tribunal satisfied the RA government’s petition regarding the nationalization of the HEC, rejecting the complaints of the former owners.

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The government of Armenia continues the large-scale infrastructure improvement program of preschool institutions, redistributing around 5.6 billion drams from the 2026 state budget for the construction and overhaul of 61 kindergartens in the regions of the republic. The corresponding decision was adopted at the session of the executive on August 6.

According to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna AndreasyanThe majority of the provided funding will be directed to completing the construction works of 35 kindergartens. In addition, it is planned to start the overhaul of eight more institutions, and additional necessary works will be carried out in 18 already constructed or renovated buildings.

At the same time, financial resources will be provided for the purpose of evaluating the technical condition of eight more preschool institutions and drawing up design budget documents. The decision also includes funding for a grant program supported by a Japanese foundation aimed at improving school building conditions.

RA Prime Minister during the discussion of the project Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that within the framework of the project, not only the reconstruction of the main buildings should be ensured, but also the complete improvement of the adjacent areas and yards, ensuring a final and comprehensive result.

The allocated funds will be distributed among dozens of preschool institutions in Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Lori, Kotayk, Shirak, Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Tavush marzes. It is noted that a total of 8.2 billion AMD is required for the final implementation of the project, the rest of which will be allocated as needed during the works.

With this funding, the executive ensures the smooth implementation of the state program for the modernization of 300 schools and 500 kindergartens.

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The Investigative Committee of Armenia reported on the extortion of property worth 2.5 million dollars by businessman, chairman of the “Prosperous Armenia” party Gagik Tsarukyan and the former CEO of the “Multi Group” concern owned by the latter, Sedrak Arustamyan, and uncovering a particularly large-scale case of money laundering.

The Investigative Committee informs that as a result of the comprehensive and effective preliminary investigation carried out in the main department of the Committee for the investigation of crimes against the state, constitutional order and public security, it appears that factual information was obtained that G.T. got acquainted with the Lebanese-Armenian businessman G.T. In order to develop the mentioned activity, the company received state registration in 2009, where G.T. and G.T. were registered as shareholders with 50 percent shares each and S.A. was elected the general director of the company.

In parallel with that, in the middle of 2009, G.T. proposed to G.T. to establish a drinking water factory in Akunk village of Kotayk marz, agreeing to buy the land together in Akunk village, after which G.T. undertook to build the factory building, and G.T. to organize the purchase of the flow line and its transfer to Armenia.

From December 2009 to August 5, 2010 inclusive, 19 pieces of equipment needed for the operation of the water plant were sent to Armenia by the Republic of Armenia, and the packaging equipment could not be delivered within the specified time due to the inactivity of the supplier company.

After that, on August 17, 2010, S.A. and G.T. as part of a group, with the direct intention of extorting the share belonging to G.T., threatened to use violence against G.T. in the garden of G.T.’s private house in Arinj village, under the influence of which G.T. signed a bond at the notary and gave power of attorney, on the basis of which, on March 14, 2011, an authorized person H.G. and S.A. signed a “Share Sale” agreement, by which S.A. was transferred 50 percent of the share in the authorized capital of the company, G.T., in order to use violence in this way threatening to extort 2.5 million dollars in particularly large amounts.

Then, with the aim of hiding and distorting the criminal origin of the gold jewelry and the 50 percent share of the company, G.T. and SA linked its activities to the legal turnover of their affiliated companies, and the gold jewelry to their other legal income. Thus, through a legal transaction, the criminal origin and true nature of the right to the company was actually hidden and distorted, the fact that it was obtained by extortion, thereby performing particularly large-scale money laundering.

On the basis of the collected evidence, a public criminal prosecution was initiated against G.T. and S.A. in accordance with Article 182, Part 3, Clause 2 (particularly large-scale extortion) and Article 190, Part 3, Clause 1 (legalizing particularly large property acquired through criminal means, money laundering) of the Criminal Code adopted on 18.04.2003.

Bearing in mind that G.T. and S.A. are detained in another criminal proceeding under investigation by the Investigative Committee, no restraining order was applied to them.

The investigation of the criminal proceedings continues.

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