ARMENIA CARRYING OUT RELEVANT WORK TO REPATRIATE PARUYR SIMONYAN

ArmInfo
2008-11-19 15:27:00

ArmInfo. The rumors disseminated by the Azerbaijani mass media that
Armenian soldier Paruyr Simonyan doesn’t allegedly want to return to
motherland meet the standard approach recently displayed by Azerbaijan,
Lieutenant Colonel Samvel Asatryan, a representative of the Working
Group of Armenian State Commission for Captives, Hostages and Missing
Persons told journalists.

"Whoever finds himself on the Azeri side, no matter whether he is a
serviceman or a civilian, statements are made that the person doesn’t
allegedly want to return to his motherland",- Asatryan said. He
recalled that similar statements were made before repatriation of
Armenian serviceman Hambardzum Asatryan as well. Moreover, Asatryan
added that the Armenian party possesses facts proving that Azeri
special services were introducing themselves as employees of Baku
delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross and doing
their best to persuade Hambardzum Asatryan not to return.

"Relevant work is being done to repatriate Paruyr Simonyan",-
S.Asatryan stressed. He added that not a single message has been
handed to Simonyan’s relatives so far (through the ICRC). As regards
Azeri soldier Rafig Hasanov, who is currently in Armenia, Asatryan
said that the soldier doesn’t want to return to Azerbaijan as he was
beaten and humiliated in the military unit. To recall, P.Simonyan
has been on the Azeri side since May 25, and R.Hasanov has been on
the Armenian side since October 8.