ANOTHER AZERI SOLDIER CAPTURED

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 28 2006

An Azerbaijani soldier was reportedly taken captive by the Armenian
forces on Sunday afternoon, in another such incident in the past weeks.

Samid Mammadov was unarmed when he was seized near the Armenian
borderline town of Ijevan, Armenian defense ministry spokesman Seyran
Shahsuvarian told the local press.

Armenian media maintained that the 19-year old Azerbaijani serviceman
passed to the other side of the frontline over alleged pressure by
his superiors. The case is being investigated.

The Azerbaijan State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and
Missing Persons has confirmed the capture of the soldier.

Another Azerbaijani serviceman, Vusal Garachayev, was captured in the
Armenia-occupied Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region early in December
after accidentally crossing over to the occupied Azeri territories.

He was handed over to the Azerbaijani authorities with the mediation
of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday.

Armenian sources claimed Garachayev fell into captivity voluntarily
and had no desire to return home.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress