Azerbaijani court sentences Stepanakert resident Karen Avanesyan to 16 years in prison

An Azerbaijani court has sentenced Stepanakert resident Karen Avanesyan to 16 years in prison, Azerbaijani media report.

A few days earlier, the state prosecutor had requested an 18-year sentence for Karen Avanesyan, who was accused of “terrorism and other serious crimes” in Stepanakert.

Avanesyan, who was known in Stepanakert for feeding stray cats by carrying food in bags, is being portrayed by Azerbaijan as a terrorist. According to the Azerbaijani side, Avanesyan, born in 1967, allegedly attempted on Sept. 14 to approach the venue of an event being held in Stepanakert “armed with an automatic firearm,” then supposedly opened fire on approaching police officers and threw three hand grenades at them. He was wounded in return fire and subsequently detained.