Reports from regional authorities indicate that Arayik Harutyunyan, the former president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, has been placed on an international wanted list by Azerbaijan. The information suggests that Harutyunyan is among a broader set of individuals being pursued by Baku, a development reported by Interfax. The designation underscores the ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the post-conflict accountability debates that continue to shape regional diplomacy.
According to Azerbaijan’s Chief Prosecutor Kamran Aliyev, more than 300 individuals from Karabakh have been added to the list of people sought by Azerbaijani authorities. He stated that these people are accused of committing crimes in Karabakh, and that Azerbaijan has assembled evidence to support these charges. The prosecutor’s remarks indicate a sweeping legal effort aimed at addressing alleged actions during the years of conflict and its aftermath, signaling a robust approach to ensuring accountability from the Azerbaijani perspective. The figure cited by Aliyev also included information about the number of cases opened, which he claimed reached a total of 300, and the corresponding breadth of international wanted notifications issued.
Aliyev further urged those on the international wanted list to surrender voluntarily, noting that four individuals have already been detained. The comments reflect a mix of public outreach and legal pressure intended to encourage compliance with Azerbaijani authorities, and they illustrate the government’s intent to pursue justice across borders where suspects may be located. The developments come amid broader regional security concerns and ongoing dialogues about how international law applies to post-conflict reconciliation and accountability.
In a related development, Azerbaijan reported the detention and subsequent arrest of David Babayan, who served as the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and was an aide to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s president. The case adds to the ongoing pattern of high-profile actions tied to legal investigations tied to the Karabakh issue and the wider implications for governance and political leadership in the region. The arrests are being observed by international observers as part of the evolving legal landscape in which post-conflict leadership figures may face scrutiny for actions taken during the disputed period.
Earlier discussions within the European Parliament touched on the topic of sanctions related to the Karabakh situation, with some members raising concerns about potential punitive measures in response to the conflict. Those conversations illustrate how European institutions have engaged with the issue, weighing the balance between deterrence, human rights considerations, and the maintenance of regional stability. The evolving narrative demonstrates how accountability measures are viewed differently across international forums and how they interact with ongoing negotiations and security concerns in the South Caucasus.