In Azerbaijan, prosecutors have said on Thursday that they were seeking life sentences for five former leaders and officials of Nagorno-Karabakh. This comes two years after Azerbaijani forces retook full control of the region, which had been controlled by ethnic Armenians, who referred to the region as Artsakh.

Most of the estimated 100,000 Armenians in the region fled after Azerbaijan's offensive in 2023 amid allegations of Azerbaijani troops conducting ethnic cleansing.

The five Armenians were among at least 15 former government and military officials arrested upon Baku's seizure of the region. They stand trial for charges of war crimes, terrorism and forcible seizure of power.

Other defendants face sentences between 16 and 20 years. The next court hearing is scheduled for late November.

Baku military court seeking stringent sentences

The Baku military court is seeking life sentences for the former president of Nagorno-Karabakh, the former army chief and deputy army chief, the former parliamentary speaker, and the former foreign minister.

Two other former presidents face 20-year sentences if convicted, as law prohibits life sentences for defendants above 65.

The former  Nagorno-Karabakh state minister and Russian tycoon Ruben Vardanyan is being prosecuted separately. He faces over 40 criminal charges, including financing terrorism and establishing armed groups.

'This must be resolved to achieve peace' — Armenian PM

On Wednesday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed concern over Azerbaijan's decision to seek life sentences for the Armenian defendants. He argued it was detrimental to the wider peace process between both countries.

"If there is a view that this problem must be resolved in order to achieve peace, I would also say that the more favorable the environment between Armenia and Azerbaijan becomes, the easier it will be to resolve this issue as well," he said during a press briefing.

The International Court of Justice is currently hearing opposing cases brought forth by Armenia and Azerbaijan, each accusing the other of ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Edited by: Kieran Burke