Interfax, Russia
June 11 2009

No Azeri captives in Karabakh – Stepanakert

STEPANAKERT June 11

There are no captives or hostages from Azerbaijan in the unrecognized
Karabakh republic, Chairman of the Karabakh State Commission for POW,
MIA and Hostages Viktor Kocharian told Interfax.

Karabakh authorities "strictly comply with the Geneva Convention.

Once the military phase of te flict was over, all the prisoners were
handed over to Azerbaijan with the mediation of the International
Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)," he said.

"Karabakh services timely inform Stepanakert offices of the ICRC and
the OSCE of any crossing of the Karabakh border by Azeri servicemen
and civilians. The latter are transferred to Azerbaijan without
preconditions," Kocharian said.

Representatives of the international organizations have free access to
all detention centers in Karabakh. There is one Azeri serviceman in
Karabakh. He crossed the border and explained his action with hazing
in the Azeri armed forces.

Kocharian refuted a statement of Chairperson of the Azeri Public
Council in Support to Captives and Hostages Esmira Orujeva, who said
that 21 Azeri children were in captivity in Karabakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress