EKHO, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2008
Samir Mammadov has been sent to Greece
Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mammadov, who had been in Armenian
captivity since 24 December 2006, has been handed overto Greece.
Diplomatic sources have told Zerkalo that it cannot be ruled out that
Mammadov’s parents will beinformed of his health condition in the
near future. However, the Azerbaijani serviceman’s communication
withparents is impossible at the moment.
According to local mass media, the offices of the International
Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia and Azerbaijan have been
informed about Mammadov’s health condition. However, allegedly in
view of professional ethics, theorganization prefers to keep silent
on the issue.
According to the same source, Greece, which maintains "friendly ties"
with Azerbaijan and which is not anenemy to Armenia at all, has
promised to make sure that our serviceman is safe and not to deport
him.
At the same time, Greece might deny Mammadov has been handed over to
this country and change our serviceman’sidentity.
Mammadov had been in Armenian captivity for over a year. Despite
statements by Armenia that Mammadov gave himself up,our
correspondent’s journalistic research on the Armenian-Azerbaijani
contact line questions the oppositeside’s statements.
Our serviceman was taken captive in the village of Bala Cafarli of
Qazax District, which is flanked by the enemyforces from three sides.
This fact itself casts doubt on the Armenian version that our
serviceman gave himself up to theenemy.
[Passage omitted: according to Armenian reports, Mammadov gave
himself up as he was beaten by commanders andallegedly did not want
to return as he is an orphan]
Armenian pressure on our serviceman had a psychological aspect as
well. The Armenians convinced Mammadov in captivitythat he might be
imprisoned for 15 years and subjected to inhumane torture in the
basements of the law-enforcementagencies.
[Passage omitted: Armenians said some Azerbaijani servicemen were
convicted for cooperating with Armenia after being released from
captivity]
[translated excerpts]