11:03, 10 March 2015

NKR's CoA upholds verdicts to Askerov and Guliev

Simultaneous interpreter translates judgement for the defendants. Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert, March 10, 2015. Photo by Alvard Grigoryan for the "Caucasian Knot"

Today, the Court of Appeal (CoA) of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) has ruled on the case of Azerbaijani citizens Dilkham Askerov and Shakhbaz Guliev, convicted on charges of murder and espionage. The verdict of the first judicial instance was upheld.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 26 the NKR's CoA considered the complaint of the defence of Askerov and Guliev on the decision of the court in Stepanakert on December 29, 2014, according to which Askerov was sentenced to life imprisonment and Guliev – to 22 years in prison on charges of illegal crossing the border of the NKR, espionage, possession of ammunition, kidnapping and killing a teenager, the murder of an officer of the Armenian Army, and a theft.

The defendants denied the allegations of murder and espionage, while partially pleading guilty on other points. On January 29, their defence lodged an appeal complaint against the verdict of the Stepanakert court.

Let us note here that the official Baku treats Guliev and Askerov as hostages, and their trial – as illegal. Azerbaijani lawyers have sent a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) about violations of the rights of Guliev and Askerov.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Alvard Grigoryan

Source: CK correspondent