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.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last m...
Russia’s fuel shortages are spreading into Central Asia, exposing the region’s heavy reliance on Russian petrol and diesel as governments race to ...
The Aviators of Ganja explores how young Spanish volunteers travelled to Soviet-era Azerbaijan to train as military pilots before being drawn into the...
Russia’s fuel shortages are spreading into Central Asia, exposing the region’s heavy reliance on Russian petrol and diesel as governments race to secure alternative supplies and contain rising prices.
As part of the Frontline episodes, this AnewZ documentary investigates Libya fifteen years after the revolution and the fall of Gaddafi — a state caught between militias, foreign powers, energy interests and diplomatic manoeuvring.
A documentary produced by AnewZ highlighting the Azerbaijani city of Shaki and its living heritage was screened on 21 May during the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).
Documentary filmmaker Mikael Silkeberg has said that making a film exploring connections between Scandinavia and Azerbaijan helped him better understand his own mixed Nordic identity.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increasing public health threat across the region.
This is the third of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered Pakistan's economic growth forecast for FY2027 to 3.7%, down from its April 2026 projection of 4.5%.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday that his recent talks with U.S. President Donald Trump would likely produce a “positive outcome” for Türkiye’s defence sector.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment