SIX ARMENIAN SERVICEMEN REMAIN IN AZERBAIJAN – YEREVAN OFFICIALS

Interfax
March 31 2010
Russia

Six Armenian servicemen are being held captive in Azerbaijan, according
to the Armenian General Staff.

"Six Armenian servicemen remain in Azeri captivity," while two Azeri
servicemen and one Azeri civilian are being held by our country,
said Samvel Asatrian, senior officer from the 9th division of the
Armenian General Staff Operations Department, said on Wednesday.

As for the Azeri servicemen killed in the early hours of March 3,
2010, when they attempted to infiltrate Armenia, the handover of their
bodies is currently being negotiated with the help of international
organizations, Asatrian said.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Lider television channel showed footage of
Armenian soldiers who voluntarily defected to the Azeri side. The
Armenian servicemen complained about conditions in the Armenian Army
and abuses. "This is one of the main reasons for our surrender to
Azerbaijan," one of the Armenian soldiers told the Azeri television
channel.

The Azeri authorities are in talks to send them to third countries.