Azernews.Az

An Armenian soldier who voluntarily crossed to the Azerbaijani territory has turned down his citizenship and is seeking transfer to a third country.
Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross met with Paruyr Stepanian on Thursday. The meeting was held behind closed doors although he had sought the participation of journalists as he intended to make a statement there. Head of the ICRC delegation in Azerbaijan, Martin Amacher, had refused to hold discussions with the serviceman, saying media presence was counter to the international conventions joined by the country.
The Armenian serviceman told the Baku-based ANS TV channel after the meeting that he had crossed over to Azerbaijan due to cases of torture in Armenia`s military and lawlessness in the country. Stepanian said he had requested the ICRC`s assistance in arranging his transfer to a third country. The organization has yet to respond to the renegade serviceman`s request.
Chief of the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry`s military police department, Rovshan Maharramov, said another reason for the Armenian serviceman`s move was his admitting that the Armenia-occupied Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region is part of Azerbaijan and his refusing to undergo military service in another state`s territory.
"Stepanian said that not only him but also other soldiers were abused in the Armenian army. He has therefore turned down his citizenship and has no intention to go back to Armenia," Maharramov said.