Azeri captive wants to become citizen of Armenia

armradio.am
20.12.2008 14:14

The Azeri soldier who crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on
October 8 and yielded himself prisoner to the Armenian side declared
that he would like to assume Armenian citizenship. The Azeri captive
stated in an exclusive interview:

`I, Hasanov Rafik Rahman Oghli, was born in 1989 in Yusuvjanli village,
Aghdam region. I currently reside in Seferli village in Aghdam region.

Why did I cross the border? I was humiliated at the 5th battalion of
the brigade #707 located in Ghazakh. I served there for three months,
and then I was glad to be moved to the base station where there would
be nine soldiers and one Officer. I thought the service would be easier
there. However, I was beaten and tortured also at Bazahli base. Unable
to stand it any longer, I decided to shoot at my left foot from the
gun, after which I was taken to hospital. I recovered and returned to
the base station. The commanders continued teasing me comparing me with
a donkey.’

Hasanov applied to Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, asking to carry
out check-up at the 707 brigade.

The captive said he does not wish to return to Azerbaijan where he is
beaten and humiliated. He added that he is treated well in Armenia.
Hasanov declared he will never return to Azerbaijan and said he is
going to become an Armenian citizen.

`I extended greetings to the President of Armenia and the President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and declare that I was a citizen of Azerbaijan
for 19 years. Now I wish to be a citizen of the Republic of Armenia and
will never return to Azerbaijan,’ Hasanov Rafik Rahman Oghli said.