19:04, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. According to the preliminary conclusion of the forensic expert, Misha Melkumyan, 84, died in Azerbaijan while being held captive from traumatic brain injury, ARMENPRESS reports Head of the Department of Criminalistics of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Rafik Vardanyan said.

'' According to the preliminary conclusion of the forensic expert, the death occurred due to brain trauma as a result of violence'', Vardanyan said.

An 84-year-old Armenian man, Misha Melkumyan, who was detained as a civilian captive by the Azerbaijani military, died overnight October 29-30 in Azerbaijani custody, the Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said on October 30.

“Taking into account all evidence and documented facts on the Azerbaijani military’s inhumane treatment and level of cruelty against Armenian captives, the reasonable and grounded assumption on what could have caused the death of our compatriot becomes obvious,” Tatoyan said.

Earlier on October 29, the Azerbaijani authorities spread disinformation claiming that the Armenian side refused to accept Melkumyan from the Azeris. The Armenian Human Rights Defender investigated and debunked the Azeri allegations. The investigation revealed that according to medical conclusions Melkumyan’s deteriorated health hindered the organization of his transfer and would’ve been unsafe for him, and the Azeri authorities were well aware of the issue. The Armenian authorities had expressed readiness to organize Melkumyan’s transfer as soon as his health condition would allow it.