Avagian and Berseghian get long terms in prison for espionage

A Nagorno Karabakh court of general jurisdiction sentenced Rafael Avagian and David Barseghian to long terms in prison for espionage and high treason, RFE/RL Armenian service reported.

22-year-old contractual serviceman of the NKR Defense Army Rafael Avagian and student David Barseghian received 11 and 10 years in prison, respectively.

According to the indictment, about a year ago Avagian and Barseghian – through Одноклассники social network - became acquainted with a certain Samvel Azatian residing in Istanbul. Azatian said he is a member of Istanbul-based charitable organization and asked Avagian to provide information about the Defense Army, in particular, about those killed and injured during emergencies, medical services, meals, the state of buildings, and so on.

In return for information, Avagian received gifts such as a watch, a wallet and other items, as well as $1,000. On Azatian’s advice, Avagian spent $800 of the indicated sum on a cell phone and gave $200 to his friend, David Barseghian, asking him to take photos of Syrian Armenians in Kovkasavan.

The defendants pleaded not guilty, saying that they did not realize the real meaning of their actions.

Arkady Israelian, the lawyer of Avagian and Barseghian, considers their sentences unfair. In his words, they thought they were communicating with a benefactor, while the prosecutors and the court did not establish the real identity of the virtual interlocutor of the defendants.