Turan news agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2005

Azeri court sentences three former POWs for high treason

The Azerbaijani court for grave crimes has sentenced three national
army servicemen to long prison terms for high treason, Turan news
agency has reported. The three were charged with desertion and
contacts with the Armenian intelligence service while in captivity.

The court sentenced Sgt Ruslan Bakirov and Pte Xayal Abdullayev to 12
and Pte Hikmat Tagiyev to 11 years’ imprisonment after they pleaded
partly guilty.

In February 2005, the three servicemen deserted from their military
unit and went to the Armenian-controlled part of Azerbaijan’s Tartar
District where they established contacts with the Armenian
intelligence service, Turan said. They were handed over to Azerbaijan
in May 2005 and then arrested and put on trial, the agency added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress