January 26, 2004 - 22:54 AMT
ACCUSED OF ESPIONAGE IN FAVOR OF AZERBAIJAN SENTENCED TO VARIOUS TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT
Five citizens of Armenia charged of espionage in favor of Azerbaijan have been sentenced today to various terms of imprisonment. To remind, the accused, namely Nina Shilina, her husband Edgar Filkov, the latter's niece Ivetta Filkova, Filkov's brother Alexander Gasparian as well as officer of the RA defense ministry Artur Oganezov, collected and provided the Azeri party with the information concerning the political and social-economic life of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh including the information of military nature in early 1990-ies. Due to the evidence of the case, Nina Shilina was accused of an attempt of organizing an explosion in the Yerevan hotel of Erebouni in 1993. As reported by Arminfo according to the verdict passed today by the Yerevan court of first instance, Nina Shilina has been sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, Edgar Filkov to 13 years, Ivetta Filkova and Alexander Gasparian to 10 years' imprisonment. Besides, Artur Oganezov, who has given a written undertaking not to leave the place, was convicted to 1,5 years' imprisonment and was arrested in the court hall. To note, the legal proceedings began last spring.