Armenian authorities treat verdict to Kazaryan as violation of international law

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has communicated the complaint against the verdict to Karen Kazaryan, sentenced in Azerbaijan to 20 years in prison, and decided to consider the case in an accelerated manner, the defence of Kazaryan, a citizen of Armenia, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) treats Karen Kazaryan as an intelligence agent captured at an attempt to commit a sabotage act on July 15, 2018.

The Ganja Court of Grave Crimes found Kazaryan guilty of committing crimes against human life and health, smuggling, illegal border crossing, terrorism, illegal arms trafficking and an attempt on the foundations of the constitutional order. He was sentenced to 20 years in a high-security colony, the "Trend" reported on February 27.

The complaint about the Karen Kazaryan's case is already at the ECtHR, Ara Kazaryan, one of Karen's advocates, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, the ECtHR communicated the complaint, deciding to consider it on the accelerated mode.

The actions of Azerbaijan, which is a member of the Council of Europe and the UN, should receive an evaluation from the international community, says the statement posted on the website of the Armenian MoD on February 28.

"Kazaryan was not an army serviceman, but he is registered at the mental dispensary. There are respective medical documents. Having sentenced him, Azerbaijan opposed itself to the international law," Larisa Alaverdyan, the head of the organization "Against Judicial Lawlessness", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 1, 2019 at 11:58 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.