"Trial" of captured Azerbaijani serviceman begins in Armenia

The "trial" of Huseyn Akhundov, one of the Azerbaijani soldiers who lost his way and accidentally entered Armenian territory on April 9, will be held today, on June 9.

The "trial" will take place at the court of general jurisdiction of the West Zangazur district, Caliber.Az reports citing Aravot daily.

The "criminal case" of Huseyn Akhundov will be considered by Judge Napoleon Ohanian.

Azerbaijani army soldier Huseyn Akhundov is charged in a trumped-up case. He is accused of the "murder" of a 57-year-old guard in the Syunik region.

On May 8, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Armenia’s Syunik region sentenced serviceman Agshin Babirov to 11 years and six months in prison.

The servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army - Babirov Agshin Gabil oglu (2004) and Akhundov Huseyn Akhliman oglu (2003) went missing on April 9 in Shahbuz region of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the border with Armenia because of limited visibility due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Cases of physical abuse and brutal treatment against the abducted Huseyn Akhundov were in the videos circulated on social networks.

Relevant international agencies have been alerted about this case, which is just another incident of Armenian ethnic violence, according to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres had also been informed that Armenia, contrary to international law, is holding captive the soldiers of the Azerbaijani army Agshin Babirov and Huseyin Akhundov.

According to local media, the permanent representative of Azerbaijan at the UN, Yashar Aliyev, in his letter to Guterres, also raised the issue of captive soldiers.

The diplomat noted that the brutal beating of both servicemen in handcuffs was captured on the footage distributed by the Armenian mass media.

"According to the relevant international obligations, Armenia must immediately release our soldiers, properly investigate and punish those who are responsible for the inhumane and degrading treatment of them", the Azerbaijani representative stressed.