Аrtsakh ex-leaders deny all accusations at Baku court

PanARMENIAN.Net - On December 25, the Baku trial against former political and military leaders of Artsakh continued in what Armenian officials and observers label a show trial based on fabricated charges.

Former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, Levon Mnatsakanyan, delivered his final statement. According to Azertag, he declared his complete rejection of all charges brought against him.

Mnatsakanyan stated that he renounces all testimonies given during the preliminary investigation phase and requested the court to consider only what he stated in the courtroom. He submitted a 51-page written version of his three-day address and asked that it be included in the trial record.

Next, former president of Artsakh Arkadi Ghukasyan took the floor for his final statement.

He rejected the prosecution's evidence and presented counterarguments, emphasizing that his work at the Soviet Karabakh newspaper had been misrepresented as criminal activity. He argued that his professional role at the publication could not be considered a crime.

He added that he left "big politics" in 2007 and never returned to it.

Finally, former Artsakh president Bako Sahakyan delivered his statement, refuting the prosecution's accusations.

"There was no criminal organization, nor could there be," he stated.

The trial is set to continue on December 26.

*According to Azerbaijani media, prosecutors are seeking life sentences for former Artsakh president Arayik Harutyunyan, former foreign minister Davit Babayan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former deputy commander Davit Manukyan, and former National Assembly speaker Davit Ishkhanyan.

Additionally, the prosecution has requested 20-year prison terms for former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, as well as for Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayev. For other detainees, the requested sentences include: Garik Martirosyan – 19 years, Davit Alaverdyan – 18 years, Levon Babayan – 17 years, and 16 years each for Vasil Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Edik Ghazaryan.*