On June 2, the Baku Court of Appeal began hearings on appeals filed by Armenian citizens convicted for military aggression against Azerbaijan.
Presided by Judge Elmar Rahimov, the session provided interpreters in Armenian and Russian, as well as defense lawyers. Victims' representatives and state prosecutors also attended.
The defendants did not challenge the interpreters, court panel, defense lawyers, or prosecutors. Their rights and duties were re-explained.
David Babayan defended his own appeal, while others were represented by their lawyers. The presiding judge stated that motions would be discussed in the next stage.
Prosecutor Sevinj Gasimova responded to the motions, noting that the Ombudsman's representative is not a party to the proceedings, sufficient witnesses had been examined, and new evidence required justification.
After deliberation, the court partially granted the motions. The appeal hearing will continue on June 9.
Earlier, the Baku Military Court sentenced Arayik Arutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and David Babayan to life imprisonment, while others received 15-20 years.
