Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian
28 Jul 04
Court sentences ex-officer for life for torturing Azeri POWs in
Karabakh
Baku, 27 July: The trial of Rauf Eyvazov presided over by judge
Mammadbagir Zeynalov ended at the Grave Crimes Court today. The court
found him guilty of high treason and handed down a life sentence
under Article 174 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code.
The investigation has established that in 1991 Rauf Eyvazov was
serving in a military unit in Baku. After taking 10 days of leave, he
went to Xankandi [Stepanakert, capital of Nagornyy Karabakh]. There,
in the village of Karkicahan, he was recruited by the Armenians and
attached to Azerbaijani POWs. Five days later Eyvazov returned to
Baku. Having retired from the military, he got married and moved to
Russia with his family.
In 1997 he returned to Baku and started visiting a centre for the
rehabilitation of the handicapped where a former POW recognized him.
In 2001, Eyvazov was convicted of fraud, while this time he was
arraigned for high treason.
During the trial Eyvazov pleaded not guilty and rejected the
accusations of high treason.