AMBARSUM ASHATURYAN CAPTURED IN AZERBAIJAN WRITES TO HIS MOTHER SAYING HE DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN TO ARMENIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan

Sept 7 2007

Armenian Army soldier Ashaturyan Ambarsum Mnakovich, who has given
himself up to Azerbaijani side recently, wrote to his mother living
in Lipetsk city of Russia. APA has got the letter written in Armenian.

The following is the full text of the letter: "Dear mother, I think
you are informed about my state. I had no one to take care about
me in Armenia. I was sent to serve in Mardakert region of Nagorno
Karabakh. And my hard days started by that. The commanders treated me
badly from the very day. I must say in Armenia, Karabagh-Armenians
treat local residents the same bad way they do in Karabkh, even
worse than that. I was often beaten and hear bad language. Illness
and death cases occur more among soldiers. When you want ordinary
medicine, they say "wait, you will be given as soon as it is brought
from abroad." Therefore, I could not stand any more and broke out of
the military unit. I lost the way when I was trying to pass Armenia,
and Azeri soldiers captured me. I have been living a capture life for
many days. I cannot return to Armenia any more, I fear they would kill
me. So, I want to get to you. Please, talk to officials in Russia
to help me. Try to often contact the Committee of the Red Cross,
they can probably repatriate me to a third country.

Good bye, mum. Tell my sister not to miss me. I am in good condition
here. I am supplied with food and water in time. Yours, Ashaturyan
Ambarsum Mnakovich."

Ashaturyan was born in 1984 in Armavik region of Armenia. He
was conscripted on May 17, this year. He trespassed on Azerbaijan
attributing the case to mass bullying, use of torture and ill-treatment
in Armenian Army.

The ICRC office in Azerbaijan told APA on 3 September, this year that
the Committee representatives visited the Armenian solder for the
second time and condition was provided for him to exchange letter
with his family members.