Verdicts Issued in Baku Against Unlawfully Detained Armenians
On February 5, 2026, Azerbaijani authorities announced a series of verdicts against unlawfully detained Armenians following judicial proceedings in Baku that have been marked by numerous violations of due process and fair trial standards.
Sentences Against the Leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)
The former political and military leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) received the following sentences:
- Arayik Harutyunyan – former President of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) – sentenced to life imprisonment
- Levon Mnatsakanyan – former Commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Defense Army – sentenced to life imprisonment
- Davit Manukyan – former Deputy Commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army – sentenced to life imprisonment
- Davit Babayan – former Foreign Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) – sentenced to life imprisonment
Two former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) were sentenced to long prison terms rather than life imprisonment due to provisions of Azerbaijani law that prohibit life sentences for individuals over the age of 65:
- Arkadi Ghukasyan – sentenced to 20 years in prison
- Bako Sahakyan – sentenced to 20 years in prison
Sentences Against Armenian Prisoners of War
In the same judicial process, Armenian prisoners of war were also convicted and given lengthy prison sentences:
- Madat Babayan – 19 years in prison
- Melikset Pashayan – 19 years in prison
- Davit Allahverdian – 16 years in prison
- Erik Ghazaryan – 15 years in prison
- Gurgen Stepanyan – 15 years in prison
- Vasily Beglaryan – 15 years in prison
- Garik Martirosyan – 18 years in prison
Appeal by Catholicos Aram I to U.S. Vice President
Amid these developments, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia has sent a letter to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, urging urgent action to secure the release of the imprisoned leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and all Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku.
According to the Holy See of Cilicia, the letter has already been delivered to the Vice President ahead of his planned visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan next week.
In his message, Catholicos Aram I emphasized that international law requires both the release of prisoners of war and the protection of spiritual and cultural heritage. He appealed for personal intervention to ensure:
- the immediate release of all unlawfully detained Armenians in Azerbaijan;
- the preservation and protection of Armenian spiritual and cultural monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).
The appeal comes as Vice President Vance prepares for a regional visit in February as part of renewed diplomatic engagement by the United States in the South Caucasus.
