Trend, Azerbaijan
March 12 2009

Armenian army deserter Paruyur Stepanyan leaves Azerbaijan: state
commission head
12.03.09 13:10

Azerbaijan, Baku, March 12 /Trend News, K. Zarbaliyeva/

Armenian soldier Paruyur Stepanyan who deserted his army and crossed
into Azerbaijan to protest violence in the military left Azerbaijan on
March 12, State Commission on Hostages, POWs and Missing People
Secretary Shahin Sailov told Trend News.

Sailov said Stepanyan left for a third country whose name cannot be
revealed according to international legal norms.

Stepanyan has also refused Armenian citizenship.

Two other soldiers who crossed into Azerbaijan on Feb. 28 also want to
leave for a third country.

Sailov said it is early to say anything about the soldiers.

Armenian soldiers crossed the border into Azerbaijan in Evciduzu in
Agdam at noon on Feb. 28. They asked Khojali IDP Zumrud Aliyeva to
give them food in Russian.

The soldiers said the situation in the Armenian army is
intolerable. The soldiers are not provided with clothing. The army
lacks heating, and soldiers catch diseases due to the cold. Soldiers
said they are not provided with food. There have pneumonia and other
serious diseases. The army also has a shortage of medicine. Infectious
diseases have left many dead. Officers misappropriate funds sent by
parents to buy medicine.