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15 Sentenced to Life for Nagorno-Karabakh War Crimes

2/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A Baku Military Court sentenced 15 defendants to life imprisonment for war crimes, including former Nagorno-Karabakh president Arayik Harutyunyan and former foreign minister David Babayan.
The defendants were charged with genocide and terrorism following Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive that shifted control of the region.
The Ruben Vardanyan case remains separate.
Azerbaijan rejected calls for further prisoner releases.

History

Historical Context

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, rooted in ethnic tensions since the Soviet era, escalated into the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, resulting in Azerbaijan regaining significant territory. The war, marked by over 6,000 casualties, ended with a ceasefire on November 10, 2020, brokered by Russia. Recent war crimes sentences reflect ongoing tensions and may impact future negotiations in the volatile South Caucasus region.

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Story summary

A Baku Military Court sentenced 15 defendants to life imprisonment for war crimes, including former Nagorno-Karabakh president Arayik Harutyunyan and former foreign minister David Babayan.
The defendants were charged with genocide and terrorism following Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive that shifted control of the region.
The Ruben Vardanyan case remains separate.
Azerbaijan rejected calls for further prisoner releases.

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