The trial in the cases of the former President of the Occupied Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan and the former Minister of State Ruben Vardanyan will begin on January 17, Azerbaijani media reported, citing Anar Rzaev, a member of the panel of judges.
It should be reminded that the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan initiated criminal cases against the former military and political leaders of the occupied Artsakh Republic.
In September 2023, as a result of the massive military aggression carried out by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh, they were illegally detained and taken to Baku. They were charged with "terrorism, financing terrorism, creating armed organizations and groups not provided for by law, conducting exercises for the purpose of terrorism."
Former Presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan and Arayik Harutyunyan, National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, former Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan, former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan and former Chief of the Armed Forces Staff David Manukyan are currently being held in illegal detention in Baku.
