Azerbaijani Serviceman Gets 20-Year Prison Term for Murder and Illegally Crossing Armenia's Border

In a recent court ruling, Azerbaijani serviceman Huseyin Akhundov was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Kapan city court of Armenia. The verdict was delivered by the Prosecutor's Office of Armenia following a trial where Akhundov was found guilty of a grave offense.

The charges against Akhundov stemmed from an incident in which he was involved in the killing of Hayrapet Meliksetyan, a 56-year-old security guard working at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine.

The tragic event took place when Akhundov and another Azerbaijani soldier, Agshin Babirov, illegally crossed the border into Armenia's Syunik Province from Nakhichevan in early April. The pair was apprehended by vigilant residents of Syunik's border villages.

The court also heard the case against Babirov, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in the illegal border crossing, as well as for unlawfully transporting firearms and ammunition across the state border. The charges against Akhundov, however, were far more severe, given his direct involvement in the fatal shooting.

Cross-border incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and the importance of maintaining a peaceful and stable border region. Such actions can potentially escalate tensions and hinder efforts to promote peace and cooperation in the area.

The sentencing of Huseyin Akhundov sends a strong message that acts of violence and border violations will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions. It also highlights the necessity of adhering to international laws and regulations governing border security and territorial integrity.

As both countries strive to find common ground and pursue a peaceful resolution to their differences, it is crucial to prevent such incidents from undermining the progress towards stability in the region.