16:17,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian law enforcement agencies have officialy requested Russia to extradite Kamil Zeynalli, the Azeri national who was briefly apprehended in Moscow pursuant to an Armenian arrest warrant.

The extradition request has been conveyed by the Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office to the Russian Prosecutor-General’s Office, the law enforcement body said in a statement. 

Kamil Zeynalli’s lawyer Alekber Garayev told Azeri media on February 21 that his client is wanted by Armenia under Article 135 (crimes against humanity), 147 (mercenaryism) and 149 (aggression) of the Armenian Criminal Code.

Other media reports said Zeynalli is also wanted under Article 140 (war crimes committed through prohibited methods of warfare).

Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told Armenpress on February 21 that the Azeri national is on the interstate wanted list on a murder charge. He did not elaborate.

Although initial media reports said the Azeri national would face a Russian court on February 22, he then flew to Baku and gave a press briefing in the airport.

According to unconfirmed media reports, Kamil Zeynalli is suspected of war crimes committed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war when he fought from the Azeri side against Armenian forces, particularly of killing and beheading an elderly civilian hostage. According to the media reports, Zeynalli is a recipient of Azeri medals for his military service.  According to the reports, the man is now a 'blogger' and a ‘fitness trainer’.