Prosecutor seeks 18-year prison term for Khankendi terror suspect UPDATED

The public prosecutor has requested an 18-year prison sentence for Karen Albertovich Avanesyan, who is accused of terrorism and other serious crimes in Khankendi.

During the trial, held under Judge Ilkin Ibishov at the Ganja Court on Grave Crimes, Avanesyan gave testimony, followed by statements from multiple witnesses, including an employee of the Social Services Agency, according to local media.

The trial is scheduled to continue on December 25.

Avanesyan is charged under Articles 29, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11 (attempted murder of two or more persons in connection with terrorist acts, committed by particularly dangerous means while performing official duties), 214.2.3 (use of firearms and items used as weapons in the commission of terrorism), 228.1 (illegal acquisition, possession, and carrying of firearms, their parts, and ammunition), and 315 (resistance and use of force against a law enforcement officer) of the Criminal Code.

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Karen Avanesyan, accused of terrorism and other serious crimes, referred to himself as a “hero of Armenia” while hospitalised, according to testimony at the ongoing trial in the Ganja Court on Grave Crimes.

Azerbaijani police officer Elmar, who participated in Avanesyan’s arrest, said that during the operation, Avanesyan ignored repeated commands to surrender and continued armed resistance, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

“Upon arriving at the scene, we repeatedly called on him to lay down his weapon. Ignoring these calls, he continued to resist. Avanesyan, armed, moved toward an area where a public event was taking place. He then hid in a building, from which he fired 6–7 shots and threw a grenade. Police were forced to return fire and wound him,” the officer stated.

Following his detention, Avanesyan was taken to a hospital, where he allegedly called himself a “hero of Armenia” while in a wounded condition, Elmar added.

The incident occurred in Azerbaijan’s Khankendi city on September 14, 2025. It involved Karen Avanesyan (born 1967), one of the very few ethnic Armenians who remained in the region after the voluntary departure of over 100,000 Armenians following Azerbaijan's September 2023 anti-terror operation.

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor General's Office, and State Security Service: Avanesyan left his residence (described as a social shelter) and retrieved a previously hidden AK-47 (or AKMS) assault rifle, four magazines of ammunition, and five hand grenades from a forested area near the city.

He armed himself and attempted to approach the site of a public event in Khankendi.

Police intercepted him; he resisted arrest by throwing three hand grenades and opening fire.

Return fire wounded Avanesyan, who was then detained. One police officer was injured (some reports mention up to three officers affected, but primarily one with injuries).

Video footage released by Azerbaijani media shows a man retrieving weapons from a cache and moving through the city.

Avanesyan received medical treatment and was hospitalised in stable condition.

A criminal case was launched immediately, with ongoing investigations.

By Khagan Isayev