Armenia ready to organise Azeri citizen’s meeting with relatives

News.am,  Armenia
Armenia ready to organise Azeri citizen's meeting with relatives

[Armenian News note: the below is translated from Armenian]

Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) is ready to organise a meeting between the Azerbaijani citizen who was detained on Armenia's state border and his relatives, News.am reported on 18 March.

Elvin Arif oglu Ibrahimov, 33, illegally crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on 16 March. The Armenian border guards started shooting after he refused to stop, and Ibrahimov was hit in the leg. He received treatment in an Armenian hospital and his life is not in danger.

Azerbaijan claimed the man was mentally ill. A criminal case was launched into the illegal crossing of the state border.

Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan visited Ibrahimov in hospital on 18 March. The Azerbaijani citizen was provided with a translator and a lawyer, News.am said.

During his conversation with Tatoyan, Ibrahimov said he would like to see his relatives and asked for the Ombudsman's assistance in this issue.

Armenia's NSS said it was ready to help Ibrahimov establish communication with the members of his family via phone, video link-up or letter. The NSS said it could also organise Ibrahimov's meeting with his family on Armenia's territory and ensure their security, News.am said.

Tatoyan said Ibrahimov was receiving the necessary medical treatment in hospital. He also provided Ibrahimov with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in Azeri, English and Russian, as well as the Armenian Constitution in English and Russian.

After the meeting, Tatoyan met representatives of the Armenian Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross and briefed them on his health conditions and his desire to meet his family, News.am said.