22:19, 1 December 2013

Supreme Court dismisses complaint of Stepanakert students sentenced for espionage

The Supreme Court of Nagorno-Karabakh has dismissed the complaint filed by advocates of students David Barsegyan and Rafael Avagyan against the verdict, according to which the students were sentenced on charges of espionage to lengthy terms of imprisonment.

Let us remind you that Rafik Avagyan and David Barsegyan were detained in March 2013. According to prosecutors, they transmitted the information of national importance to Samvel Azatyan, an agent of foreign services, who lived in Istanbul. The court sentenced the students for treason in the form of espionage to 10 and 11 years of imprisonment, respectively.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Goar Mnatsakanyan, the mother of convicted David Barsegyan, that the Supreme Court argues that "our courts are independent, and we do not doubt their competence."

Arkady Israelyan, an advocate of David Barsegyan, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the Supreme Court's decision surprised them. The advocate has stated that the defence will continue to work on the case. However, he has not specified the steps that can be taken.

The advocate has added that the defence cannot appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) because of the pending status of Nagorno-Karabakh and that the work will be thus continued within the territory of the republic.

Author: Alvard Grigoryan

Source: CK correspondent