Paris court increases sentence for Armenian nationalist In case over attack on Azerbaijani embassy

The Paris Court of Appeal has toughened the sentence of Loris Tufanian, a member of the Armenian nationalist movement Charjoum, in connection with the attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in France that occurred in September 2022. The incident, organised by radical pro-Armenian activists, drew widespread international condemnation.

On July 8, the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s ruling, which found Tufanian guilty of the attack. However, the appellate court imposed a harsher penalty, sentencing him to 12 months of suspended imprisonment, doubling the original six-month suspended sentence. Additionally, Tufanian was given a five-year ban on possessing or carrying weapons requiring authorisation, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media. 

The court also found Tufanian guilty of damaging property intended for public use, committed by a group or with accomplices, thereby aggravating the charges compared to the first-instance ruling. The appeal confirmed the financial penalty imposed on him as part of the civil claim.

Tufanian was identified as the main suspect through video evidence and eyewitness testimonies. The initial sentencing by the Paris court on June 23, 2023, included a six-month suspended sentence and a fine.

Azerbaijan’s interests in the Court of Appeal were represented by lawyer Edmond Verdier, who emphasised the broader significance of the case: “We are defending the foundations of international law, diplomatic sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence among nations.”

Experts suggest that the court’s decision could set a precedent in international legal practice for protecting diplomatic missions from acts of aggression.

The attack on September 18, 2022, involved a violent intrusion into the Azerbaijani Embassy premises in Paris, during which metal barriers were used to break down the front door, causing damage to the embassy building. These actions violate international law, specifically the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The Azerbaijani Embassy was represented in court by the law firm Lexlor, which submitted evidence demanding punishment for the main organiser and participants of the attack.