An Azerbaijani court today sentenced two Armenian soldiers arrested on May 26 near the town of Zangilan (Kovsakan) to 11.5 years imprisonment.

Harutyun Hovakimyan and Karen Ghazaryan were found guilty of attempting to carry out terrorism in Azerbaijan.

On May 27, the Armenian Defense Ministry refuted a statement released by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) alleging they were part of a larger Armenian subversive group.

The ministry said the two soldiers operated a vehicle supplying food and water to Armenian combat positions near the Azerbaijani border and had lost their way.

Azerbaijan has confirmed that thirty-five Armenian prisoners are currently held in its prisons.