Baku court hears testimonies of former Armenian leaders accused of war crimes

 A public trial continued in Baku against former leaders of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh regime – including Araik Arutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan – and other Armenian citizens charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and terrorism.

Testimonies presented in court included Ghukasyan’s statement that the “defense minister” of the separatist entity could only be appointed with approval from Armenia’s defense ministry and president, and that all weapons and supplies came from Armenia.

Arutyunyan confirmed that during the April 2016 clashes and the 2020 44-day war, orders and missile strike commands originated from Armenia’s top military leadership, including Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan.

Sahakyan, who led the separatist entity from 2007 to 2020, testified about his involvement in the armed movement since 1988, admitting that Armenian defense ministers and state leaders directed military operations during the first Karabakh war.

The trial will resume on Aug. 29.

N.Tebrizli