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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One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
Energy security dominated the opening day of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, as Saudi Arabia warned of a serious response to recent attacks and industry leaders confronted growing threats to global oil and gas supplies.
Iran has offered to help ease escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis, warning that further conflict would benefit only Israel. The offer followed a phone call between the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers.
A delegation of around 40 international travellers from 13 countries has concluded a three-day tour of Azerbaijan’s Garabagh and East Zangezur regions, exploring historic landmarks, reconstruction projects and an active mine clearance site.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Russia's TASS news agency is reporting that Russia's defence and digital development ministries are in talks about how to protect data centres, after several Yandex centres were targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks.
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