PROSECUTOR GENERAL OF ARMENIA DEMANDS TO SENTENCE ARMENIAN CITIZEN
CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE IN FAVOR OF AZERBAIJAN TO 13 YEARS OF
IMPRISONMENT
YEREVAN, JUNE 24. ARMINFO. Prosecutor General of Armenia Aghvan
Hovsepyan has demanded to sentence Armenian citizen Andrey Maziyev
charged with espionage in favor of Azerbaijan to 13 years of
imprisonment. Trial on Armenian citizen Andrey Maziyev is at the First
Instance Court of Yerevan communities Malatia-Sebatia under
chairmanship of the judge Tigran Petrosyan. He is charged with three
articles of the Armenian Criminal Code (high treason through
espionage, contribution to preparation of a terrorist act,
contribution to preparation of the murder of a state political
figure).
In his speech, Prosecutor General of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan says
that exposure of the given crime allow prevention of heavier crimes.
A.Hovsepyan noted that in October 1999 Maziyev was in Azerbaijan
wherein he was enlisted by Azerbaijani special services. By Jan 4 2005
he was receiving tasks from the special services and fulfilling them
under a nickname “Frolov”. On the whole, he met with representatives
of Azerbaijani special services 18 times and received some 2.5
thous. USD. He sent Armenian Russian language newspaper to the special
services of Azerbaijan, collected information of domestic political
situations in Armenia, on military and defense complex and the
situation in army, information of economic nature, on the atomic power
plant and the nuclear fuel supplied, as well as on NKR. In the autumn
of 2000, in conformity with regular instructions, Maziyev took photos
of the president on the latter’s arrival from a tour. He photographed
the landing plane, helicopters protecting the territory of the
airport, the president and his escort passing by the building where
Maziyev lives. He also took photos of the president in hangar and the
building of the airport. He handed over the photos to the special
services, informing them of the places of snipers. Officers of special
services of the Azerbaijani National Security Ministry Faig Shamilov
(who is announced internationally wanted by Armenia) certain Mahmoud
and Zaur, as well as runners Nodar and Zurab, dealt with Maziyev. The
special services were interested whether Maziyev had acquaintances
among the relatives of Nairi Hunanyan and Mushegh Saghatelyan.
Prosecutor General says that the existing proofs confirm the guilt of
the defendant. At the same time, he pointed out the necessity of
taking into consideration both the aggravating and softening
circumstance, in particular, the fact that Maziyev pled guilty and
contributed to the exposure of the crime. In his turn, Prosecutor Aram
Amirzadyan says that the guilt of Andrey Maziyev is proved without his
own admission, due to numerous witnesses and proofs, in particular,
the confiscated data on the runners, photos of the airport and record
of a telephone conversation with Zaur.
In his speech, Lawyer Hakov Isakhanyan says that he had no intention
to justify the crime of his client, pointing out the softening
circumstances, as it were Maziyev’s admissions and contribution that
helped exposing the crime. Maziyev himself asked to take into account
that he had carried out such a heavy crime as his family had been
subjected to pressure and the Azerbaijani special services were
informed of its arrival in Russia. He sincerely repented of the crime,
asking the court to display more soft attitude to his guilt.
The verdict will be announced on June 28.