Azerbaijani Prosecutor Seeks 20-Year Prison Sentence for Lebanese Armenian Vigen Euljekjian

The Azerbaijani prosecutor has requested a 20-year prison sentence for Vigen Euljekjian, a Lebanese Armenian currently held captive in Azerbaijan. This information has been reported by Azerbaijani media.

Today, a court session related to the criminal case of Vigen Euljekjian, who was captured by Azerbaijanis in Artsakh, took place at the Baku Military Court. During the session, Euljekjian’s lawyer submitted a motion to return the case to the investigation stage, which was denied.

Azerbaijan accuses Vigen Euljekjian of committing “terrorist acts” against Azerbaijan and “mercenary activity,” claiming that he “agreed to participate in the military operations resumed in Artsakh in autumn 2020 for $2,500.”

He has been charged under Articles 114.3, 214.2.1, and 318 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, and he has been remanded in custody as a preventive measure.

It is noteworthy that Vigen was captured along with another Lebanese Armenian, Maral Najaryan, on the day of the ceasefire, November 10. Believing they could safely transport their belongings, Maral went to Shushi with Vigen Euljekjian, another acquaintance, to retrieve their items from a hotel, where they were subsequently captured.

After months of struggle and intervention by Lebanese authorities, Maral was successfully returned to Lebanon, but Vigen remains in Baku.