EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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19 .12.08
On October 8, 2008 the Azeri soldier who crossed the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border 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."
I am addressing my message 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 am announcing 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.