Baku announced the detention of the former head of Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan

Prosecutor General’s Office and State Security Service of Azerbaijan reported about the detention of the former president of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Arayik Harutyunyan.

The politician was detained on October 3 in Khankendi (Stepanakert). He was charged with starting a “war of aggression,” violating international law, issuing criminal orders, creating armed groups, terrorism, etc.

According to the investigation, Harutyunyan was involved in “training and financing mercenaries” who subsequently participated in hostilities and military operations. In addition, it was established that the former head of the unrecognized NKR violated the norms of international humanitarian law during the armed conflict, Baku claims.

Azerbaijan also believes that Harutyunyan “made a significant contribution” to the creation of armed formations in Karabakh and equipping them with weapons and ammunition. The statement refers to suspicions against the politician of organizing terrorist attacks and committing other crimes “resulting in damage to civilian and military infrastructure.”

It is clarified that Harutyunyan was charged back in October 2020. At the same time, he was put on the international wanted list.

In early October A.P.A. wrotethat the Azerbaijani authorities also detained former NKR presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan. Criminal cases have been initiated against them, the agency noted. October 4 TASS with reference to the close circle of the President of the unrecognized republic Samvel Shakhramanyan reportedthat the politician is on the territory of Armenia, he was not detained.

Earlier it also became known about the detention of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, adviser to its president David Babayan, ex-commander of the Karabakh army Lieutenant General Levon Mnatsakanyan and ex-Minister of State of the unrecognized republic, former head of the Russian investment company Troika Dialogue Ruben Vardanyan . The latter was charged with “financing terrorism” and was detained for four months.