EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: EUR 54/03/94

Distr: UA/SC

3 May 1994

Further information on UA 171/94 (EUR 54/01/94, 29 April 1994) - Fear of imminent execution

ARMENIATwo prisoners of war from Azerbaijan:

Bakhtiar Khanali ogly SHABIEV

Garai Muzafar ogly NAGIEV

Amnesty International has now learned the names of two Azerbaijani prisoners of war sentenced to death recently in Armenia. Bakhtiar Khanali ogly Shabiev and Garai Muzafar ogly Nagiev were reportedly convicted of murdering three Armenian civilians in the Kelbajar region of Azerbaijan, and of attempting to poison a reservoir in Armenia, in a trial ending late last month. Six other defendants received long terms of imprisonment.

Amnesty International initially feared that the men may have been denied the right to appeal. However, latest reports suggest that they were granted the right to appeal within seven days and that this period may be extended to allow translation of the verdict from Armenian into Azeri.

Three other Azerbaijani prisoners of war held as suspects in this case - Faig Gabil ogly Guliev, Rustam Ramazan ogly Agaev and Bakhrat Akif ogly Giasov - are said by the Armenian authorities to have committed suicide on 29 January this year after failing to escape from custody.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express and airmail letters either in English, Russian, Armenian or your own language:

- urging that the death sentences passed on Bakhtiar Khanali ogly Shabiev and Garai Muzafar ogly Nagiev be commuted;

- urging that all other pending death sentences be commuted;

- urging a thorough and impartial investigation into the deaths of Faig Gabil ogly Guliev, Rustam Ramazan ogly Agaev and Bakhrat Akif ogly Giasov, with the results made public;

- pointing out that Amnesty International takes no position on territorial disputes, and is concerned solely with the issue of the death penalty in the case of Bakhtiar Khanali ogly Shabiev and Garai Muzafar ogly Nagiev.

APPEALS TO:

1) President Levon Ter-Petrosyan

Marshal Bagramyan boulv. 19

375095 Yerevan

Republic of Armenia

Telegrams: President Ter-Petrosyan, M. Bagramyan 19, 375095 Yerevan, Armenia

Faxes: + 8852 52 15 81

Salutation: Dear President

2) Levon Pogosyan

Head of the Presidential Pardons Department

375095 Yerevan

Republic of Armenia

Telegrams: Pogosyanu L, Otdel pomilovaniya pri presidente, 375095 Yerevan, Armenia

Salutation: Dear Chairman

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

1) Ardavazd Gevorkyan

Procurator-General of Armenia

Shaumyan Square

375010 Yerevan

Republic of Armenia

2) Tariel Barsegyan

Chairman of the Supreme Court of Armenia

Shaumyan, 6

375010 Yerevan

Republic of Armenia

3) Rafael Papayan

Chairman of the parliamentary commission on

human rights and nationalities

M. Bagramyan, 19

375095 Yerevan

Republic of Armenia

fax: + 8852 52 15 81

4) Vagan Papasyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs

M. Bagramyan, 19

375019 Yerevan

Republic of Armenia

fax: + 8852 52 70 22

and to diplomatic representatives of Armenia accredited to your country

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 14 June 1994.