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Madat Babayan (born 15 September 1952) was reportedly captured by Azerbaijani forces on 19 September 2023 in Charektar during Azerbaijan’s military assault on Nagorno-Karabakh. He is currently held in preventive detention and is being tried before the Baku Military Court as part of a collective case involving 14 other Armenian citizens.
He is accused of “involvement in a criminal organization during specific periods” under at least 24 articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Article 103 (genocide), Article 114 (mercenarism), and Article 214 (terrorism).
According to pro-government Azerbaijani media, statements attributed to Babayan were presented during hearings in March, April, and September 2025, including alleged admissions concerning arms supply routes, his presence in Khojaly in February 1992, and participation in hostilities between 1990 and 1994. He reportedly denied involvement in the 2020 war and stated that he was detained in September 2023 after being found in possession of a firearm. At a hearing on 5 September 2025, he allegedly confirmed his preliminary investigation testimony.
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On 31 October 2025, Babayan’s lawyer filed a motion seeking the exclusion of certain charges, which the court dismissed. At the hearing held on 13 November 2025, the prosecution requested that the court sentence Madat Babayan to 20 years of imprisonment. According to independent observers and human rights sources, the charges against him are widely regarded as fabricated and politically motivated.
