05/24/2021 Azerbaijan (International Christian Concern) –  Prisoner of war and Lebanese-Armenian Vicken Euljekjian began his trial in Azerbaijan on May 16. Azerbaijan announced his charges just days after two Syrian mercenaries were convicted in Yerevan on terrorism charges for acting as mercenaries on behalf of Azerbaijan in the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Euljekjian faces charges for participation as a mercenary in a military conflict, terrorism, and illegally crossing into Azerbaijan. Under these accusations, he could receive life imprisonment. The prosecutor in his case, Elbey Allahverdiyev, previously sentenced another Armenian prisoner of war to 15 years in prison in May 2015. A reportedly coerced confession video shows Euljekjian admitting to acting as a mercenary that was circulated on Baku TV.

Two more Armenians also now face trial for allegedly torturing Azerbaijani prisoners. Ludwig Mkrtchyan and Alyosha Khosorvian were captured in October 2020 and their trials begin May 24. Many more Armenian prisoners of war remain in Azerbaijan, despite repeated calls for their release.

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