Baku court sentences three former Artsakh leaders to life imprisonment

The Baku Military Court on Thursday announced verdicts in a fabricated criminal case against the former military and political leadership of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

According to Azerbaijani media reports, former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Artsakh army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and former deputy commander Davit Manukyan have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The case also involves other former senior officials, including former Artsakh Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, and former foreign minister Davit Babayan.

Azerbaijan’s prosecutors had sought life sentences for most of the defendants. However, under Azerbaijani law, life imprisonment cannot be imposed on defendants aged 65 or older. Prosecutors instead requested 20-year prison terms for Ghukasyan and Sahakyan.