Today, in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Court of Appeal the hearing into the case involving Azerbaijani saboteurs Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Guliyev - the two members of Azerbaijani intelligence-diversion group, who illegally crossed the NKR state border from Shahoumyan region, has been held in the NKR capital city of Stepanakert.
Why have the saboteurs decided to appeal? NKR Court of Appeal held the first hearing
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: Тhe Prosecutors Hrayr Abrahamyan and Karen Saghyan, led by Norayr Grigoryan were assigned to the hearing.
First, Grigoryan declared the articles the accused were charged by, then the defendants' lawyers Erik Beglaryan and Arkadi Israelyan announced the rationale, according to which the verdict of the NKR Court of First Instance didn’t satisfy their clients.
Erik Beglaryan noted that there should be a partial cassation of the sentence of the NKR Court of First Instance for his client, and Arkadi Israelyan requested for full cassation for his defendant.
In his turn, the State Prosecutor Karen Gabrielyan presented the trial arguments and examination results, including material evidence on espionage, murder, videorecordings, kidnapping and weapons.
Murdered Smbat Tsakanyan’s legal heir Mekhak Tsakanyan noted in his speech he didn’t agree with the defendants' appeal because, in his opinion, the Court had made a just decision.
During the session, the defendants Askerov and Guliyev, submitting their complaints, mentioned in particular, they didn't agree with the decision of the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction, as while crossing Karabakh-Azerbaijan border, they didn't realize it was illegall.
The defendants commited they hadn't carried out espionage and pleaded not guilty to murder. "I have no relation to the special services of Azerbaijan and don't know whether Hasan Hasanov (another killed one, a member of the criminal group) was special services officer," Dilham Askerov noted, adding that Smbat Tsakanyan had been killed by Hasan Hasanov.
With regard to the videorecordings and their web posting, Askerov found it difficult to answer who could have done it.
In his turn, accused Guliyev pleaded not guilty under any section.
After hearing both sides, the Court appointed the next session on March 10, at 11:00.
Remind, that Dilham Askerov was charged under 7 articles of the NKR Criminal Code and Shahbaz Guliyev - under 5 articles.
The defendants are charged by espionage, illegaly crossing of protected state border performed by organized group without proper documentation and approval, illegal carrying of firearms and ammunition as an organized group, kidnapping by means of violence, which puts in danger life or health, the use of weapons against a minor performed by organized group, murder interfaced to kidnapping performed by organized group, motivated by ethnic hatred. Dilham Askerov is also charged with a murder of two persons performed by organized group, motivated by ethnic hatred.
During the Court hearing on 29 December, 2014 Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Guliev were sentenced to life imprisonment and 22 years in prison, respectively.
"Artsakhpress" continues to monitor the trial process and will shortly provide other details of the criminal case.
