Trials of former Nagorno-Karabakh officials in Azerbaijan raise deep concern

Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, Rustam Bakoyan, has expressed serious concerns over the trials of former high-ranking officials of Nagorno-Karabakh currently underway in Baku, citing significant human rights issues and violations of international norms.

“The prolonged detention of Arkadi Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Davit Manukyan, Garik Martirosyan, Melikset Pashayan, Davit Alaverdyan, Gurgen Stepanyan, Levon Balayan, Madat Babayan, Vasily Beglaryan, Erik Ghazaryan, and Ruben Vardanyan, along with reports regarding their detention conditions and the ongoing trials in Baku, is deeply concerning,” Bakoyan stated on social media.

He highlighted that gross violations of fundamental human rights are being recorded, contradicting international norms and the principles of a fair trial.

According to Bakoyan, international standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, obligate states to uphold the right to a fair trial and protection from torture and degrading treatment, regardless of ethnicity.

Bakoyan also noted that he plans to meet with sectoral experts and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the coming days to assess the current situation and determine further actions.