Claims about hunger strike by Armenian-origin terrorist in Azerbaijani custody are false

Armenian media has circulated news alleging that Vicken Abraham Euljekjian, a Lebanese mercenary fighter imprisoned in Azerbaijan for participating in combat in Karabakh, is on a hunger strike.

According to Report, these claims are false. The convict is currently serving his sentence as prescribed.

Euljekjian was detained by Azerbaijan"s State Security Service (SSS) following the 2020 Patriotic War.

He was charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including:

• Article 114.3 (mercenarism),
• Articles 214.2.1 and 214.2.3 (terrorism),
• Article 228.2.1 (illegal acquisition, possession, transportation, and carrying of firearms and ammunition),
• Article 279.1 (creation of unauthorized armed groups),
• Article 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border).

By verdict of the Baku Military Court, Euljekjian was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The ruling specifies that he will serve the first 5 years in a standard prison facility, followed by 15 years in a high-security correctional institution.