Facebook* users debated the fairness of Avanesyan's sentence.

Karen Avanesyan, who remained in Khankendi, was convicted on a fabricated terrorist charge, Armenian social media users suggested, while Azerbaijani users considered the verdict fair. Details of the case are known only from Azerbaijani sources, noted lawyer Ara Ghazaryan.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on December 25, the Ganja court sentenced Karen Avanesyan, who remained in Khankendi (the Armenian name is Stepanakert) after the exodus of Karabakhis to Armenia, to 16 years in prison. The man was found guilty of a terrorist attack, an attempted murder of two or more people, and the illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.

As of 12:50 p.m. Moscow time on December 29, Facebook* users had left more than 1,030 comments under the "Caucasian Knot" post about Avanesyan's sentencing.

Some users with Armenian names questioned the Azerbaijani security forces' version of events. "Do you really believe this man could handle a machine gun professionally? You're disgracing yourselves," wrote Hovik Badalyan. "The case is fabricated. They've turned a sick man into a 'Terrorist Rambo,'" said Nina Davidyan.

"They're trying a sick man who was simply framed to fabricate a dirty case," opined Marine Manukyan. "It would be funny if it weren't so sad. Do they really believe this story?" – Elya Bagishyan asked.

Other Armenian social media users didn't rule out Avanesyan's crime, but doubted the terrorist motive behind his actions.

"We don't know the real reasons for his actions. We're being shown a ready-made picture. He doesn't look like a terrorist or a partisan. We need to listen to the person, not make things up," Zhanna Avanesova noted.

"He's mentally ill and didn't serve in the army for that very reason. If he had, he could have caused real damage," Ella Ange expressed her opinion. "Defending one's homeland from occupation cannot be considered terrorism," stated Angela Achikgiozian.

In turn, users with Azerbaijani names in their nicknames considered Avanesyan's sentence fair. "He stayed not to live, but to kill. Azerbaijan does not organize terrorist attacks in your country, but he shot and threw grenades. He was convicted according to the law," said Almaz Shakarova, in particular.

"A man came with a machine gun and grenades and wounded police officers. Were we supposed to reward him? Anyone who raises arms against us will be punished," wrote Oktay Aliyev.

"In response to the respect shown to him, he committed treason. He bit the hand that fed him," expressed the opinion of Elgün Hemidli. "He is an Azerbaijani citizen and was convicted under Azerbaijani law. Nationality has nothing to do with it," noted Cavid Iskenderli.

"He doesn't seem sick. Everything was planned: he hid the weapon and waited. The verdict is fair," wrote Rəşad Qənimətli. "He hid an assault rifle and grenades in advance and went to kill people. There is video footage. Before writing, we need to study the facts," said Azat Abbas.

Karen Avanesyan's sentence was handed down "in the absence of any reliable information about the observance of his right to a fair trial and other fundamental rights during the trial," stated lawyer Ara Ghazaryan.

"Furthermore, information about this trial is available exclusively from limited sources in the Azerbaijani press. There is no reliable and verifiable information about the legal basis for the trial, the factual circumstances of the case, or whether Karen Avanesyan's procedural rights were observed or whether his right to a fair trial was guaranteed," Panorama.am quoted the lawyer as saying on December 27.