Armenian soldier handed over by Azerbaijan to third country returns to Yerevan
YEREVAN. Oct 2 (Interfax) - A member of the Armenian Armed Forces, Akop Indzhigulian, who spent more than a year as a captive in Azerbaijan and was subsequently handed over to a third country, returned to Yerevan in the early hours of October 2.
He told journalists that the decision to hand him over to a third country was made by Azerbaijan.
"In order to have a chance to return to my home country I agreed to be handed over to a third country, otherwise they threatened me with execution. While in captivity, I was subjected to violence, I was beaten and abused. Before each interview and meeting with Red Cross representatives I was instructed and told what I must say and how, they read my letters. It was my personal decision to return to Yerevan," Indzhigulian said.
He confirmed that he got lost and strayed into Azeri territory in the early hours of August 8, 2013.
Indzhigulian also said that after undergoing medical checks he intends to resume service in the Armenian Armed Forces.
The soldier arrived in Yerevan on a transit flight from Moscow. A month ago he was handed over to a third country and found himself at a refugee camp in Romania.
