Artsakh ex-President questioned in Baku over historic Shushi images

PanARMENIAN.Net - During a hearing in Baku’s military court involving fabricated charges against Artsakh’s former political and military leadership, video footage from the days following the 1992 Armenian capture of Shushi was presented, according to Minval.az .

The footage included appearances by Arkadi Ghukasyan, former president of the Republic of Artsakh. Ghukasyan was questioned in court about the people visible in the video.

“In the middle, in civilian clothes, is the driver. Behind me in a suit is Oleg Yesayan. In the background I recognized Armen Isagulov. The second person is Zori Balayan. In civilian attire is Vasili Atajanyan. Now Bishop Pargev approaches the driver... I don’t recognize the rest — they seem to be military personnel,” he said.

In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its entire Armenian population, Azerbaijan detained several former Artsakh leaders, including ex-presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, along with former state minister Ruben Vardanyan, foreign minister Davit Babayan, and others. The charges brought against them are widely considered politically motivated and could result in life imprisonment. Their trial began in Baku on January 17.