Luis Moreno Ocampo comments on Baku court`s sentence on  politico-military leaders of Artsakh 

ArmInfo. The first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo  issued the following statement: 

"Nagorno Karabakh leaders praised by Azerbaijan in a sham trial. They  are civilians trialed before a military court a total violation of  basic human rights. If they are considered combatant the charges are  wrong, they could not be charged for ordinary crimes like terrorism.

"After the sham trial against Nagorno-Karabakh leaders, who are  victims of ethnic cleansing and genocide, the EU commission could not  continue ignoring Azerbaijan violations of human rights in order to  obtain an overpriced oil." 

The exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in  Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts estimate the number to  be several hundred. Currently, Azerbaijani authorities confirm the  presence of 19 Armenians in their custody. Among those held in  Azerbaijani captivity are eight former and current members of the  military-political leadership of Artsakh. These include former  Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik  Harutyunyan; former Foreign Minister David Babayan; as well as  Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanyan; former Commander of the Artsakh  Defense Army General Levon Mnatsakanyan; General David Manukyan; and  former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. "

Today, the Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, David  Babayan, David Ishkhanyan, David Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to  life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, and Bako Sahakyan and Arkady  Ghukasyan to 20 years in prison. The so-called court sentenced the  remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison. The verdict  has not yet been announced for philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, whose  case has been separated into separate proceedings.