AZERBAIJAN NEITHER DENIES NOR CONFIRMS REPORTS ABOUT CAPTURED ARMENIAN SOLDIER
Armenpress
08 April
BAKU, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS: The press office of Azerbaijan's defense
ministry said today it had no information about an Armenian soldier, who was
reportedly taken prison in Armenia's westernmost region of Tavush earlier
this week.
The Armenian soldier was reported missing from his military unit on April
1. The Armenian defense ministry said Thursday the soldier deserted his
military unit near the border with Azerbaijan and might have been captured
by Azerbaijanis.
Azeri defense ministry press secretary Ramil Melikov was quoted by
Russian RIA Novosti news agency as saying that the state commission dealing
with war prisoners had not received any report about the Armenian soldier
from international organizations. He said he could neither deny or confirm
the report.
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed an internationally mediated agreement in
Tbilisi on March 18 meant to facilitate prisoner exchanges.
Four Armenian soldiers who were captured by Azerbaijani forces several
months ago were released in January 2005. Three of them were captured near
Nagorno-Karabagh last November and are now prosecuted for willingly `coming
into contact with the enemy.' The fourth soldier, who served in the Armenian
region of Vardenis, in northeastern Armenia, was charged with desertion.
Three Azerbaijani soldiers, taken prisoner by the Armenian side after
crossing into Armenian-controlled territory in the northeast of Karabagh
earlier this year are still kept in custody in Karabagh, but are expected to
be released soon
Armenpress
08 April
BAKU, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS: The press office of Azerbaijan's defense
ministry said today it had no information about an Armenian soldier, who was
reportedly taken prison in Armenia's westernmost region of Tavush earlier
this week.
The Armenian soldier was reported missing from his military unit on April
1. The Armenian defense ministry said Thursday the soldier deserted his
military unit near the border with Azerbaijan and might have been captured
by Azerbaijanis.
Azeri defense ministry press secretary Ramil Melikov was quoted by
Russian RIA Novosti news agency as saying that the state commission dealing
with war prisoners had not received any report about the Armenian soldier
from international organizations. He said he could neither deny or confirm
the report.
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed an internationally mediated agreement in
Tbilisi on March 18 meant to facilitate prisoner exchanges.
Four Armenian soldiers who were captured by Azerbaijani forces several
months ago were released in January 2005. Three of them were captured near
Nagorno-Karabagh last November and are now prosecuted for willingly `coming
into contact with the enemy.' The fourth soldier, who served in the Armenian
region of Vardenis, in northeastern Armenia, was charged with desertion.
Three Azerbaijani soldiers, taken prisoner by the Armenian side after
crossing into Armenian-controlled territory in the northeast of Karabagh
earlier this year are still kept in custody in Karabagh, but are expected to
be released soon