Baku: In an open court hearing on the criminal case against Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other serious crimes, the final court decision was announced.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the court hearing was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev, and reserve judge Gunel Samadova. The accused was provided with an interpreter in Russian and state-funded defense counsel.
The hearing was attended by the accused, his defense counsel, victims and their legal successors, representatives, prosecutors for the state prosecution, and Rufat Mammadov, Head of the Administration of the Cabinet of Ministers, representing the Republic of Azerbaijan as a victim.
According to the verdict, Vardanyan has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. During the court hearing, the prosecutor had requested a life sentence for Vardanyan.