DEFENSE MINISTRY: "VUSAL GARAJAYEV WILL BE RETURNED TO AZERBAIJAN"

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2006

"Vusal Magomed oglu Garajayev, captured on December 7, upon return
to Azerbaijan will be sent to prison to spend a long time there,"
so-called "NKR President" Arkady Ghukasian said in Yerevan December 17.

In his words, ‘the Azeri soldier knowingly crossed the border in a
grave health state, since he was constantly beaten by his fellows.’

"There is no necessity to investigate the incident, it’s clear."

Ghukasian remarked adding that ‘the captive does not want to return
to Azerbaijan fearing of savage punishment,’ PanArmenian quoting
Regnum IA.

The "NKR President" also informed that ‘within a day after capturing
an appeal was sent to the International Committee of the Red Cross
and presently technical issues are being settled.’

The officer of Azerbaijani Defense Ministry press service Ilgar
Verdiyev told the APA that Gukasyan’s words are a part of Armenian
propaganda. He said that Azerbaijani soldier got lost.

"At present the negotiations on hand him over are going on. Vusal
Garajayev will be returned to Azerbaijan."

It should be noted that Garajayev Vusal Mammad born in 1988 was
drafted from Aghdam Military Registration Department and was taken
as a hostage in Aghdam territory on December 7. But according to the
official sources the soldier got lost.

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