Armenian soldier who crossed border to Azerbaijan detained (UPDATE)

17:51

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry confirmed the Armenian soldier’s capture. Armenian soldiers keep on crossing border to Azerbaijan because of intolerable situation in their army, the ministry said.

“The incident took place  in Gadabay region near the contact line on July 15. Soldier of regiment 549 of Armenian Defense Ministry and resident of Yerevan Karen Norigovich Harutyunyan, 19, couldn’t endure torture by his fellow soldiers, left the service place and crossed the border to Azerbaijan and surrendered to the Azerbaijani servicemen”. 

16:25

"I was tending calves outside the village near the frontier post. It was half past eight in the evening and I saw a man in upland, approaching me. He was in military uniform caused suspicion. I ordered him to hand up. He had no gun. I found mobile phone and pocketbook and then returned him. I led him to the village," said 14-year old Gadabay resident Fariz Nabiyev, who stopped Armenian soldier while crossing border to Azerbaijan.

"He was about 19-20. When I reached uncle Azer’s house in the entrance of the village I called him and handed the Armenian soldier to my uncle. Then military servicemen came to take him away. He said “I am Karen from Abovyan region” and hinted that that he was hungry. Then he wanted drink. I led him to the spring. I didn’t understand what he tried to say with gesture."

13:23

A shepherd tending herd of sheep near the border saw an unknown soldier with suspicious behavior. The shepherd rendered him harmless and handed to the Azerbaijani military servicemen as soon as he identified he was an Armenian soldier.

The reasons for the Armenian soldier's crossing border to Azerbaijan remains unknown.

No official comment on the incident is available yet.

/APA/