On December 23, court hearings continued in Baku on fabricated cases against members of Artsakh’s military and political leadership.
Those on trial include former Artsakh presidents Araik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, and Bako Sahakyan, former National Assembly speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others.
Presiding judge Agaev announced that the proceedings continued with the hearing of the defendants’ final statements.
In his final address, Levon Mnatsakanyan said he does not agree with the testimonies of the prosecution and the so-called victims regarding the April 2016 battles.
Mnatsakanyan stated that he is accused of planning the April fighting, but stressed that this does not correspond to reality. According to him, all events during the April battles took place within defensive zones.
Mnatsakanyan, who previously served as commander of an artillery brigade, also addressed accusations concerning damage to forests and destruction of monuments caused by artillery shelling. He rejected these claims as well, noting that monuments could have been damaged by other types of weapons.
The court session will continue on December 25.
According to Azerbaijani media, the prosecution has demanded life imprisonment for former Nagorno-Karabakh president Araik Harutyunyan, former foreign minister Davit Babayan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former deputy Defense Army commander Davit Manukyan, and former Artsakh National Assembly speaker Davit Ishkhanyan.
In addition, prosecutors have sought 20-year prison terms for former Nagorno-Karabakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, as well as Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan. Requested sentences for other detainees are: Garik Martirosyan — 19 years; Davit Alaverdyan — 18 years; Levon Babayan — 17 years; Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Edik Ghazaryan — 16 years.
