Three Armenian servicemen fall into captivity
Three Armenian soldiers are being held by
Azerbaijani authorities. Azerbaijan`s State Commission on Captives,
Hostages and Missing Persons has confirmed the soldiers are being
held.
"The Armenians were wearing military uniforms and they were captured by civilians and handed over to our servicemen," said Shahin Sayilov, the Commission`s secretary.
The soldiers had voluntarily crossed to the Azerbaijani side near the Ergi Duzu area in the Aghdam district on Saturday night.
Rural residents have told the Baku-based ANS TV channel that the Armenian soldiers had approached one of the farms in the area at around 1 a.m. and asked for food and water. The residents, who realized that the men were Armenians, withheld help and had them brought to a nearby Azerbaijani military unit.
The Armenian servicemen said they had crossed over to the Azerbaijani side due to being ill and were unable to receive medical attention in their military unit, according to eyewitnesses.
Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a war over the mountainous region of Upper Garabagh in the early 1990s, which claimed some 30,000 lives and displaced about one million Azerbaijanis. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since then. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far. Sporadic clashes on the frontline continue.
"The Armenians were wearing military uniforms and they were captured by civilians and handed over to our servicemen," said Shahin Sayilov, the Commission`s secretary.
The soldiers had voluntarily crossed to the Azerbaijani side near the Ergi Duzu area in the Aghdam district on Saturday night.
Rural residents have told the Baku-based ANS TV channel that the Armenian soldiers had approached one of the farms in the area at around 1 a.m. and asked for food and water. The residents, who realized that the men were Armenians, withheld help and had them brought to a nearby Azerbaijani military unit.
The Armenian servicemen said they had crossed over to the Azerbaijani side due to being ill and were unable to receive medical attention in their military unit, according to eyewitnesses.
Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a war over the mountainous region of Upper Garabagh in the early 1990s, which claimed some 30,000 lives and displaced about one million Azerbaijanis. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since then. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far. Sporadic clashes on the frontline continue.
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