Armenian captive in Baku appeals to Pashinyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Major General Davit Manukyan, speaking from a prison in Baku, has appealed to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, urging him to publicly state his position on the charges brought by Azerbaijan, warning that remaining silent would amount to agreeing with what he called false accusations, according to Pastinfo.

"I am addressing my remarks to Armenian citizen Nikol Pashinyan. One of the false accusations brought against us under Articles 100.1 and 100.2 of that country's Criminal Code concerns the planning and preparation of an aggressive war in September 2020. Despite all the irrefutable evidence we have presented, I urge you, as the Prime Minister of Armenia and the Commander-in-Chief at the time, to publicly state your position specifically on these charges. Failing to respond would mean that you agree with these false accusations, thereby making not only yourself but the entire Armenian people complicit.

I hope the inscription on your former hats has not been forgotten.

I also expect you to clarify Armenia's official position regarding the status of those held here. It is regrettable that those imprisoned here do not feel Armenia's presence, but unfortunately this is the reality," Manukyan said.

He also stated that he and his colleagues continue to defend themselves in court against what they describe as fabricated and false charges, "preventing the humiliation of our rights, as well as of the Armenian people and Armenian statehood."

Meanwhile, the judicial proceedings continue before the Baku Court of Appeal, which is considering appeals filed on behalf of 15 Armenian citizens.

The Baku court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison. Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan received a life sentence. Life imprisonment was also imposed on former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former first deputy commander Davit Manukyan, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Davit Babayan, and former National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan. Former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were each sentenced to 20 years in prison. Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan received 19-year sentences, Garik Martirosyan 18 years, Davit Alahverdyan and Levon Balayan 16 years each, while Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasily Beglaryan were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.