Today, the NKR Court of Appeal announced the sentence in 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.
The verdict of the NKR Court of Appeal in the case of Azerbaijani saboteurs
STEPANAKERT, MARCH 10, ARTSAKHPRESS: While proclaiming the verdict, biographical information on the offenders concerning the case was introduced, then the Court announced the articles under which the defendants were charged. The Court of Appeal, led by Norayr Grigoryan, involving the judges Hrayr Abrahamyan and Karen Saghyan, reviewing the sentence of the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction, has decided to reject the appeals of the defendant's lawyers Arkady Israelyan and Erik Beglaryan. The Court of Appeal has also ruled to uphold the decision of 29 December 2014 of the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in the criminal case of Guliyev and Askerov.
Then the accused were informed that after announcing the sentence, it could be appealed within one month at the Artsakh Republic Supreme Court.
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.
