Nagorno Karabakh’s higher court has rejected the appeals by two Azerbaijanis who have been convicted for murder and a number of other crimes committed as part of their subversive activities last year, their lawyers told media, according to Armenia Now.

The Appeals Court in Stepanakert left the sentences of Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Quliyev unchanged. In December, the court of the general jurisdiction sentenced the Azerbaijani citizens to a life and 22 years in prison, respectively.

Last month authorities in Nagorno Karabakh refused to consider the release of the two Azerbaijani nationals after an appeal for a “humanitarian gesture” made by United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland on her visit to the South Caucasus.