International law expert Ara Ghazaryan has stated that the life and long-term prison sentences handed down by a Baku court against the former political-military leadership of Artsakh were entirely political, aimed at denying both the factual and legal foundations of Artsakh’s independence. His comments were reported by Pastinfo.
“These trials were designed to reject the existence of a genuine independence movement. Instead, they try to frame it as an Azerbaijani occupation. If accepted, this recasts the entire conflict since 1992, not as a struggle for just independence, but as an aggressive, unlawful war initiated by Armenia. That’s the purpose behind this entire judicial performance,” Ghazaryan said.
He noted that the testimonies given in court were clearly rehearsed to support this narrative, attempting to portray the conflict as a war of conquest planned by Armenia against Azerbaijan.
When asked whether the materials from these trials could be used against Armenia in international courts, Ghazaryan said he does not see that as a realistic threat.
“Domestically, they can control the process, manipulate facts, and deny the defendants access to chosen lawyers. But in international courts, that control vanishes. The narrative shifts not to ‘Armenia attacked Azerbaijan’ but that Azerbaijan attacked the people of Artsakh living in their homeland. That’s why Azerbaijan has avoided initiating cases in international courts, and if it has, it’s only been in response to Armenia’s filings, aiming to create a mirror effect,” he explained.
He added that Baku is unlikely to independently pursue such a case internationally, as it would risk exposing its true objectives during a more impartial trial process.
Ghazaryan also addressed the possibility of eventual prisoner returns, acknowledging it as theoretically possible.
“States do cooperate on such matters. There are precedents for prisoner transfers or repatriation to serve sentences at home. Armenia and Azerbaijan have both ratified relevant Council of Europe conventions. Even the extradition of Ramil Safarov followed that mechanism, though I don’t draw direct comparisons here. In the end, it’s a political decision. I don’t foresee a blanket return in the near future, but individual cases may move forward,” he concluded.
Former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Also sentenced to life were former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, his first deputy David Manukyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, and National Assembly Speaker David Ishkhanyan.
Former Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan received 20-year sentences. Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18, David Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Vasily Beglaryan to 15 years in prison.
