Several Armenian defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday (5 February) as the Baku Military Court began reading out verdicts in criminal cases under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.
Under the court’s ruling, Levon Mnatsakanyan has been definitively sentenced to life imprisonment, in line with the punishment sought by state prosecutors. The court also sentenced David Manukyan, Arayik Harutyunyan and Davit Ishkhanyan to life imprisonment.
The court session was attended by the defendants, their legal representatives, some of the victims and their legal successors, as well as prosecutors representing the state.
The trial, which began on 17 January 2025, involves 15 defendants facing a broad range of charges under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, including allegations related to genocide, terrorism, violations of the laws of war, forced displacement, torture and the illegal seizure of power.
The court had previously adjourned proceedings for deliberations on 26 December, 2025.
Prosecutors allege the offences were committed during the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict and involved coordinated actions by state institutions, armed forces and other groups.
Talks and peace symbolism in Abu Dhabi
The hearings resume as Azerbaijan and Armenia pursue improved diplomatic ties.
On 4 February, President Ilham Aliyev met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Abu Dhabi, where both sides welcomed progress following the Washington Peace Summit hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
They said both societies were seeing “real benefits of peace on the ground,” citing the start of bilateral trade, energy exports from Azerbaijan to Armenia and transit of goods through Azerbaijani territory.
President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the implementation of TRIPP and other connectivity projects.
The presidents reaffirmed their readiness to continue working toward the further strengthening of peace and stability between their countries and agreed to maintain contacts in support of the bilateral normalisation process.
The developments coincided with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony in Abu Dhabi, attended by President Aliyev, underscoring international support for dialogue and reconciliation.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
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