Armenian PM describes Baku trials as troubling

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a government Q&A session in the National Assembly, addressed the staged trials of former leaders of Artsakh in Baku, describing the scenes as deeply concerning.

“The information we learned and the scenes we witnessed are troubling,” he said. “However, we must approach this situation with the principle of avoiding harm. This issue remains a constant focus in our diplomatic engagements and agenda.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that the government would continue its efforts while exercising caution to prevent further harm to the captives.

“I could make declarations to satisfy your patriotic emotions, but the consequences and impacts of such statements will be felt by those people in prison—on their own skin. Do we understand this or not?” he added.

In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade and the ethnic cleansing of the entire Armenian population of Artsakh, Azerbaijan detained former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, and several other former officials. The fabricated charges against them could result in life imprisonment. On January 17, the first session of the trial of Artsakh leaders took place in Baku.

On January 16, Ruben Vardanyan, in a statement, noted that he had not provided any testimony since his detention, other than stating his name. He stressed that all records prepared under his name are falsified and confirmed that he, his lawyer, and translator have been subjected to pressure.