Caprives plead not guilty in Baku trial

PanARMENIAN.Net - The trial against former political and military leaders of Artsakh continues in Baku.

According to Azerbaijani media, at the February 27 hearing, former Artsakh president Arkadi Ghukasyan stated that Armenia was the guarantor of Artsakh and that the “small Artsakh” could not have ensured its own defense until a settlement of the conflict.

He also mentioned that during the 44-day war in 2020, he remained in Artsakh and, together with former president Bako Sahakyan, sought to meet with Arayik Harutyunyan to persuade him to ask Armenia to intervene and stop the war.

Ghukasyan emphasized that there were no mercenaries in Artsakh, only Armenian armed forces funded from Yerevan, Minval.az reports.

It is noted that Bako Sahakyan stated that his rights were not violated during the preliminary investigation, and he was able to express his views freely.

At the same time, he mentioned that “the conflict under trial is not a matter of criminal and judicial proceedings, but he does not question the court’s authority.”

Arayik Harutyunyan was asked to testify but requested additional time to prepare. The court granted his request.

Following this, Davit Ishkhanyan testified, rejecting the charges against him.

Then, Davit Babayan took the stand, also denying the charges. He stated that he “could not have committed the crimes mentioned in the indictment and never spread hatred against the Azerbaijani people.” According to him, “he loves his people but is not a nationalist.”

The next court hearing is scheduled for March 3.

At the previous session, prosecutors completed the reading of the indictment.

In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its entire Armenian population, Azerbaijan captured former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, as well as former state minister Ruben Vardanyan, foreign minister Davit Babayan, and several other former officials. The fabricated charges against them could lead to life imprisonment. The show trial in Baku began on January 17.