FAMILY OF ARMENIAN SOLDIER INJIGULYAN RALLY IN YEREVAN

Interfax, Russia
August 13, 2013 Tuesday 3:24 PM MSK

YEREVAN. Aug 13

The family of Armenian serviceman Akop Injigulyan who found himself on
Azeri territory in the early morning hours of August 8 are rallying
in front of the Yerevan office of the International Committee of Red
Cross (ICRC).

They have also sent an open letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian.

The family asked for Russian assistance in the liberation of the
soldier.

An interview of Injigulyan with an Azeri media outlet was posted on
Monday night. The soldier said he “crossed the Armenian-Azeri border
on purpose after his commander had beaten him for the refusal to go
and fetch some water.”

Armenian Defense Ministry press secretary Artsrun Hovannisian told
reporters that an interview with a solider published by the media
violated the Geneva Convention regarding prisoners of war.

“Clearly, the Armenian serviceman had to make that statement; he
was forced to do so. So, I would like to stress that the serviceman
will be exempt from punishment in the case of his return home,”
Hovannisian said.

The ICRC Yerevan office said they had not received direct confirmation
of a meeting of the Red Cross Baku office with POW Injigulyan.

The Armenian media recalled Armenian shepherd Manvel Saribekian who was
taken prisoner by Azerbaijan on September 11, 2010. The shepherd was
branded a saboteur and his interview with an Azeri television channel
was posted online several days later. Azerbaijan said Saribekian
committed suicide early in the morning on October 5, 2011.

His body was later transferred to Armenia.

Te cm

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress