AZERBAIJANI CIVILIAN REPATRIATED UNDER ICRC AUSPICES

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[03:13 pm] 30 November, 2007

An Azerbaijani civilian previously detained in Yerevan has been
repatriated from Armenia to Azerbaijan under the auspices of the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The operation
took place on the road between the Armenian town of Ijevan and the
Azerbaijani town of Gazakh, at the international border.

Prior to his release and transfer, ICRC delegates had visited the
detained civilian on several occasions, in order to assess his
conditions of detention and treatment. The ICRC had also forwarded
family news between the detainee and his relatives.

Acting as a neutral intermediary and in accordance with its mandate,
the ICRC facilitated the transfer of the released civilian at the
request of both the Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities. ICRC
delegates had visited the civilian before the operation to ensure
that he was returning of his own free will.