STEPANAKERT. – The trial on the criminal case into Azerbaijani defendants Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Guliyev was pushed back Friday at the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR; Artsakh) capital city Stepanakert seat of the NKR First Instance General Jurisdiction Court.

The prosecution and the defense were to make their final statements on Friday, Artsakhpress informed. But based on the motion by Guliyev’s legal defender Arkadi Israyelyan to the effect that he has health issues, and also considering the fact that injured party Vrezh Balayan is absent from the courtroom, the court adjourned until December 19.

The trial, which had begun on October 27, is coming to an end. The verdict on the saboteurs is expected to be announced before the end of the year.

Dilham Askerov is charged with espionage; unauthorized border trespass; kidnapping and violence against a minor, committed by an organized group; murder committed by an organized group motivated by ethnic hatred; and attempt of murder of two persons, committed by an organized group, motivated by ethnic hatred. Shahbaz Guliyev is charged with espionage; unauthorized border trespass; kidnapping and violence against a minor, committed by an organized group; and murder committed by an organized group motivated by ethnic hatred.