TO NAME DIVERSANTS 4 ARMENIANS DISCOVERED IN NAKHICHEVAN IS ABSURD, DEFENCE MINISTER STATES

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Azeri side’s statement that allegedly
4 citizens of Armenia taken prisoners in April are members of a
diversion-intelligence service group is absurd. RA Defence Minister
Seyran Ohanian stated at the June 9 press conference. According
to him, with the same success we can name "diversants" Azeris,
who found themselves on the Armenian side. "As the Chairman of the
Commission for Prisoners, Hostages, and Missing People I have met with
the head of the Yerevan Center of the International Committee of Red
Cross lately and have conveyed the latter Armenian side’s concern and
asked him to assist Armenia in the issue of returning the prisoners,"
the Minister said.

According to him, at first the Azeri side expressed readiness to return
the Armenian prisoners, but changed its mind later. S. Ohanian called
relatives of prisoners for not worrying about their fate expressing
a confidence that finally they will be returned or will be exchanged
with Azeri prisoners.

It should be mentioned that Vanik Zmboyan, Artem Zohrabian, Karen
Torosian, and Aghasi Yenokian, who visited their friend doing military
service in the the military unit near the village of Khachik,
Yeghegnadzor region, lost their way and passed to the territory
of Nakhichevan. On May 3, the Azeri side violated the agreement on
returning citizens of Armenia the same day reached beforehand.