DEADLINE FOR SAVING ARMENIAN CAPTIVE IN BAKU IS LATE NOVEMBER
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/11/2006

Zaven Ramazian, 28, has been held captive for 12 years now by an Azeri
captain Ramiz Huseinov from Baku. This terrible story dates back to
the gloomy years of our new history. The captive’s mother, Araksia
Avetisian, tells daily Azg with tearful eyes: "At 8.30 am on February
1 1994 two unknowns called my 15-year-old boy Zaven out and took him
away." In 7 days she received a phone call from Ramiz Huseinov from
Marneuli, Georgia, saying that her 15-year-old boy is with him. The
Azeri captain demands that the boy’s mother finds his brother who
was taken captive during the Nagorno Karabakh war promising to send
the boy back in return for his brother. Mrs. Araksia finds out soon
after that the Azeri’s brother was killed in the war.

The poor woman from Vanadzor says that she tried to find her son by the
help of the police but failed. She even sold her flat in Vanadzor. "My
child is alive but I cannot help him as I have sold everything I had
and I’m helpless now," she says.

Huseinov occasionally called her and got in touch with her through
different people demanding that $6.000 in return for her son. Yet,
the woman who lives in a small house provided by the municipality
does not have even a penny. Last time the Azeri called the woman was
a few days ago; he gave an ultimatum: unless she gives the requested
sum she won’t see her son any more. In woman’s words, her son was
a talented boy who used to sing and play dhol but now he works for
"the Turk" in Azerbaijani oil wells.

"I am in a no-go situation. My son was to serve his motherland but
now he is captive begging her powerless and weak mother for help. Are
the people and the country unable to reach out a helping hand to
me? If it’s the case then it’s dreadful," the suffering mother wrote
in the letter to president Robert Kocharian. Hoping to find support,
Mrs. Araksia aks to put down her motherly request: "Dear President,
You also have a mother and will understand the mother’s heart and
what mother’s feelings mean. I beg you for help."

The life of the young Armenian costs only $6.000, a sum that can put
an end to the torments of an Armenian mother. It’s a little sum that
will bring many blessings to those who will reach out to help Araksia
and her son.

Mrs. Araksia has also turned to the Red Cross but was told that they
cannot help her, as her son is not registered at Azerbaijan’s Red
Cross. 2 days ago Mrs. Araksia again called us saying that the Azeri
captain called her again and threatened. A man sent by her son told
her that the $6.000 will save her son. Few days are left till the end
of November. Those wishing to help return Zaven Ramazian can transfer
money to the following account at Ardshininvestbank: 247 170 000 001.