Armenian soldier detained after returning from captivity

In Armenia, Arman Khachatryan, one of the five Armenian soldiers returned by Azerbaijan on December 29, was detained on suspicion of violating the rules of military service.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that after the aggravation of the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 16, Azerbaijan returned 26 soldiers to Armenia. On November 26, Azerbaijan handed over to Armenia two prisoners of war (POWs), including a military man and a civilian. On December 4, ten more soldiers were returned to Armenia: the Azerbaijani side exchanged them for minefield maps. On December 19, ten more militaries returned to Armenia. On December 29, five more militaries were returned home through the mediation of Hungary.

Arman Khachatryan was detained on the charge of violating the rules of military service, which entailed grave consequences, reported Vardan Tadevosyan, the press secretary for the Investigative Committee of Armenia. “The other four militaries who returned to their homeland were interrogated within a criminal case,” said Vardan Tadevosyan as quoted by the “News Armenia” news agency.

The “Caucasian Knot” has also reported that on December 27, a court in Armenia arrested for two months Major Narek Yeremyan, who had returned from captivity in Azerbaijan. The officer is accused of violating the rules of military service. Earlier, five militaries handed over to Armenia by Azerbaijan were accused of violating the rules of combat duty after their release from captivity. Armenia should not open criminal proceedings against its own captured soldiers, human rights defender Arthur Sakunts says.