Punishment tightened for the main defendant in the case of the attack on the Embassy of Azerbaijan in France

The Paris Court of Appeal increased the punishment for Loris Toufanian, a member of the Armenian movement Charjoum, in the case of an attack on the Embassy of Azerbaijan in France committed in September 2022. This incident, organized by radical pro-Armenian activists, caused wide international resonance.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Report, the Paris Court of Appeal considered the appeal on June 10, and today issued a decision on this case, confirming the decision of the court of first instance, according to which Toufanian was found guilty of attacking the Azerbaijani embassy in France.

Based on this, Toufanian was sentenced to 12 months of suspended imprisonment (an increase in punishment, as according to the court of first instance he was sentenced to a 6-month suspended sentence) with the addition of an additional punishment - a ban on possession or carrying of weapons requiring a permit for a period of 5 years.

In addition, after examining the case materials, the court found Toufanian guilty of damaging property intended for public use, committed by a group of persons or accomplices. Thus, the court recognized the aggravation of the crime compared to the first instance.

The appeal upheld the decision of the court of first instance on the civil lawsuit, namely the application of a financial penalty to him.

It should be noted that the main accused in the attack on the diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan - a member of the Armenian movement Charjoum Loris Toufanian - was identified through video recordings and eyewitness testimonies. By the decision of the Paris court on June 23, 2023, Toufanian was sentenced to a suspended six-month term and a fine.

Azerbaijan's interests in the appellate court were represented by lawyer Edmond Verdier, known for his work on international cases. Verdier previously stated that this process defends not only the state or its representatives: "We are defending the foundations of international law, diplomatic sovereignty and peaceful coexistence between peoples."

According to experts, the court's decision may set a precedent in international legal practice for the protection of diplomatic missions from aggression.

Recall that on September 18, 2022, radical Armenian nationalists attempted to attack the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Paris, resulting in damage to the embassy building. Evidence related to the incident was transferred to the local court with a demand to punish the main organizer and participants of the attack. In court, the Embassy of Azerbaijan was represented by the law firm Lexlor.

According to the investigation, there was a violent intrusion into the territory of the Embassy of Azerbaijan, accompanied by the destruction of property. Metal barriers were used to break the front door. These actions constitute a violation of international law, in particular, the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.