September 17, 2009 - 23:31 AMT
Azerbaijan treats communication with Armenians as treachery
Military court in Azerbaijan finished hearings on cases of Azerbaijani army soldiers Elchin Mamedov, Orhan Ismaylov. Shamo Dashdamirov and Murshud Bagirov.

By court decision, Murshud Bagirov will serve 14 years in prison; Shamo Dadashov, Elchin Mamedov and Orhan Ismaylov will serve 10, 12 and 13 years respectively.

"Soldiers in Defense Ministry's N military unit based in Fizuli region, Elchin Mamedov, Orhan Ismaylov, Shamo Dadashov and Murshud Bagirov voluntarily deserted their posts several times to meet with enemy servicemen and disclose military secrets to them," Trend News agency reports.

Azerbaijani army soldiers are accused of crimes prescribed by Articles 274 (state betray) and 338.1 (infringement of rules on implementing fighting watch [fighting service] on duly detection and reflection of sudden attack on Azerbaijan Republic or maintenance of its safety if this act could harm interests or safety of the state) of Azerbaijan's Criminal Code.