Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan and ex-Artsakh President Arkady Ghukasyan have petitioned Armenian Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan (photo) to release Robert Kocharyan from pre-trial detention so that he can attend May 9 celebrations in Stepanakert marking the liberation of Shushi, victory in WWII, and the founding of the Artsakh Defense Army.

“We are ready to come forward with any type of guarantee necessary to release him from detention for the entire duration of the trial,” the petition reads. 

It can be inferred from the above that Sahakyan and Ghukasyan would be willing to post bail for Kocharyan who served as Karabakh president from 1994-1997.

In their letter, Sahakyan and Ghukasyan write that it’s a tradition to invite former Artsakh leaders to attend these celebrations and that Kocharyan, who served as the first president of the Republic of Artsakh, should also be granted the opportunity.

Sahakyan and Ghukasyan argue that changing Kocharyan’s detention status would be seen as a signal of unity and harmony.