Former Nagorno-Karabakh National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan has issued a message from prison in Baku, saying that the trial has been a failure for the prosecuting side.
According to Ishkhanyan, it was obvious to everyone that the verdict had long since been decided by other authorities, Factor.am reported.
“It is not the panel of judges that is making this decision. They will merely announce what has already been determined elsewhere. This is a political trial in which the law of force prevails over the rule of law. But politically and morally, neither the prosecution nor the panel of judges has won this case. We, the defendants, are the ones who have prevailed. For the prosecuting side, this has been a failed trial,” Ishkhanyan said.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Araik Harutyunyan was sentenced to life imprisonment. Life sentences were also imposed on former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former First Deputy Commander Davit Manukyan, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Davit Babayan, and former National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were each sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years in prison, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Vasily Beglaryan to 15 years in prison.
