Justice Served: Controversial Sentences in Nagorno-Karabakh Trial

An Azerbaijani military court delivered long sentences to 13 former Nagorno-Karabakh officials. Defendants faced charges from war crimes to violent power seizure. Human rights groups have questioned the trial's fairness. The court's decision represents a pivotal moment in the struggle between Armenia and Azerbaijan over this historically contested region.

An Azerbaijani military court has sentenced 13 former officials from Nagorno-Karabakh, a region where ethnic Armenians maintained an unrecognised statelet for three decades, to long prison terms. This comes in the wake of Azerbaijan regaining military control in 2023.

Sentences include life imprisonment for five individuals, including former Karabakh leader Arayik Harutyunyan, and 15 to 20 years for eight others. The charges range from war crimes to terrorism. Human rights organizations have expressed concerns over the fairness of the trial proceedings, which commenced in January 2025.

The context of this trial ties back to the region's turbulent history, including two wars between Azerbaijan and Armenia over control. The 2023 recapture by Azerbaijan resulted in the exodus of around 100,000 Armenians. Lawyer Javid Rzazade stated Harutyunyan anticipated the verdict, though legal challenges may still arise.

(With inputs from agencies.)