Azeri kangaroo court sentences kidnapped Armenian soldiers to over 11 years imprisonment on fabricated charges

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. The two Armenian soldiers who were kidnapped by Azerbaijani forces on May 26 in an Azeri cross-border incursion into sovereign territory of Armenia were sentenced on Friday to more than 11 years in prison in a sham trial in Azerbaijan.

Local media reported that the Azeri court sentenced the two Armenian soldiers to 11 years and 6 months imprisonment on fabricated charges of illegal border crossing and conspiracy to commit crimes.

The two servicemen were ambushed and kidnapped by Azerbaijani forces after delivering water and food to an Armenian army unit on the border.

On May 27, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said Azerbaijan was attempting to deviate from its own obligations with the illegal kidnapping of the troops. It called on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian POWs.

On May 29, Armenia requested the ECHR to indicate interim measures in the case of the two kidnapped soldiers.