Update: Baptist Military Conscript Receives Suspended Sentence in Nagorno-Karabakh

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AzerbaijanA Baptist man, Gagik Mirzoyan, received a suspended sentence on July 7 after he refused to swear the military oath or serve with weapons when he was called to serve in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally considered part of Azerbaijan.  In April, VOMC reported that Mirzoyan had been beaten and given ten days detention for sharing his faith (click here for details).

Mirzoyan is now back with his military unit in the Hadrut district where he is under "special supervision."  He is not under any particular pressure at this point.  Historically, Baptists in much of the former Soviet Union are pacifists in doctrine, but this has not prevented believers such as Mirzoyan from being conscripted into military service.

Pray that Mirzoyan will be free to practice his faith without further harassment or punishment. 

For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in the region, click here.

  • Country Information

    Population
    10,420,515 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Azerbaijani (91.6), Lezghin (2), Russian (1.3), Armenian (1.3), Talysh (1.3), other (2.4)

    Religions (%)
    Islam (97.3), Christianity (2.6), other (0.1)

    Leader
    President Ilham Aliyev (2003)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Civil law system

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Azerbaijan

    Pray for peace within the hearts of the Azerbaijani people who are living amid political instability. May the country's governmental authorities be willing to grant Christians their fundamental freedoms, enabling them to worship freely and share their faith openly with others of their communities.

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Azerbaijan News

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    Photo: World Watch Monitor

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