According to the Washington Post, the court in the capital city of Baku issued the sentences on Monday. The ruling brings the total number of people convicted of planning attacks during the May 2012 Eurovision Song Contest to 36, reports Republica.
Eurovision is an annual song contest open to any member country of the European Broadcasting Union. The 2012 contest in Azerbaijan was seen by over 100 million people around the world, reports Republica.
According to APA, the Ministry of National Security uncovered the plot the day before the song contest.
Around 40 people were originally suspected of planning attacks on the concert hall where Eurovision was held. They also allegedly planned attacks on Azerbaijani hotels, religious sites, police buildings, and on the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, reports Republica.
According to the Washington Post, prosecutors said that those arrested had declared a holy war against the secular government in Azerbaijan. Some are believed to be from Dagestan, a republic of Russia with an active Islamic insurgency.
