Five-man arrest list preceded Artsakh leadership’s capture

PanARMENIAN.Net - Artsakh lawyer Roman Yeritsyan shared new details on the arrest and extradition of the region's political-military leadership, emphasizing how 120,000 Armenians were safely evacuated without major involvement from the Armenian government.

According to Yeritsyan, there was a predetermined list of five individuals to be arrested and taken to Baku: Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Davit Babayan, Ruben Vardanyan, and Davit Ishkhanyan. The list was provided to the Artsakh President, who remotely informed each of them, including Ruben Vardanyan.

Despite being warned, Vardanyan opted for a direct route via the Hakari Bridge rather than an alternative exit. He was accompanied by Davit Manukyan and the latter's wife. All three were detained by Azerbaijani security forces; Manukyan’s wife was released two days later.

Yeritsyan noted that Levon Mnatsakanyan did not attempt alternative routes despite having the option. The lawyer believes that all arrests occurred because Azerbaijani authorities had warned that if those named attempted escape, the mass transfer of civilians to Armenia would be blocked.

Claims that Davit Babayan surrendered voluntarily were refuted. He was first detained, then made a post announcing his surrender from Stepanakert’s Lavanda complex to avoid endangering civilians.

Before October 2, no arrests were made, but searches continued for the three remaining individuals on the list. Around 120 individuals, including rescue workers, remained in Artsakh until those three were handed over. As this group began moving under Russian peacekeeper escort, other figures such as Karen Shahramanyan and Karen Sargsyan were arrested and used as leverage, detained in what had become an Azerbaijani command post — Sargsyan’s house.

Others, including Arthur Harutyunyan, Ararat Melkumyan, Sahakyan’s security chief, and Kamo Vardanyan’s driver, were detained on the bridge under threat of transfer to Baku unless they cooperated. Some were later released after negotiations.

Ultimately, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, and Davit Ishkhanyan agreed to surrender only after learning their refusal would jeopardize others. They met with Azerbaijani agents under specific terms, while Defense Army Commander Kamo Vardanyan remained uninvolved in the talks.

Negotiations dragged on to buy time for others to cross the bridge. Once that was done, the three leaders surrendered. Sahakyan insisted on Kamo Vardanyan’s release as a precondition, which Azerbaijani officials said they would consider.

Notably, there was no original order concerning Samvel Shahramanyan or Arayik Harutyunyan. Harutyunyan himself offered to surrender to protect his brandy factory. Shahramanyan sent his driver to accompany him. Both Harutyunyan and Armen Sargsyan were detained; the latter was later freed.

Azerbaijani agents warned that if Kamo Vardanyan were to leave, it had to happen before dawn via Russian helicopter. Thus, Samvel Shahramanyan, Kamo Vardanyan, and Armen Sargsyan were flown to Armenia as a result of negotiations, not a personal decision.

According to Azerbaijani media, life imprisonment has been sought for Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Davit Ishkhanyan. Twenty years are being sought for Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Madat Babayan, and Pashayyan Melikset.

Other requested sentences include: Garik Martirosyan – 19 years; Davit Alaverdyan – 18; Levon Babayan – 17; Vasil Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Edik Ghazaryan – 16 years each.

A separate case is underway for Ruben Vardanyan, for whom life imprisonment has also been requested.