Case of Karen Hovhannisyan accused of terrorism in Khankandi sent to court

The criminal case against Karen Hovanissyan, who is accused of terrorism and other particularly serious crimes in Khankendi, has been sent to court.

According to Report, this information was released by the press service of the Prosecutor General"s Office of Azerbaijan.

It was noted that the preliminary investigation has been completed into the criminal case initiated under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General"s Office regarding the terrorist act committed on September 14, 2025, in the city of Khankandi using firearms and ammunition, which resulted in an explosion, as well as an attempted murder of more than two police officers in connection with terrorist activities and other incidents.

During the investigation, reasonable suspicion was established that Karen Hovanissyan, a Khankandi resident Armenian origin born in 1967, committed several particularly serious crimes.

With the aim of violating public security, creating panic among the population, and carrying out acts of terrorism accompanied by explosions, loss of life, and other socially dangerous consequences, Hovanissyan acquired and stored in Khankandi an AKMS assault rifle with components and a large number of hand grenades remaining from the illegal armed groups that had operated in the city until September 2023.

To implement his criminal intent, on September 14 at about 07:00, Hovanissyan left the social shelter where he resided without explanation, retrieved the previously hidden ammunition, prepared it for use, and at about 09:00 entered an abandoned house, where he took up position and waited for police officers to approach.

Observing a large number of police attempting to determine his location, he concluded that the suitable moment for the pre-planned terrorist act had come. From his hiding place, he opened indiscriminate automatic fire on the approaching police officers, and then threw hand grenades toward them.

As a result, three police officers sustained injuries of varying severity, were evacuated from the scene, and survived thanks to timely medical assistance.

Despite multiple warnings, Hovanissyan refused to comply with lawful demands of the authorities. The police used firearms, after which he was detained and taken to a hospital, where he received the necessary medical care.