Family of Armenian soldier Injigulyan rally in Yerevan
YEREVAN. Aug 13 (Interfax) - The family of Armenian serviceman Akop Injigulyan who found himself on Azeri territory in the early morning hours of August 8 are rallying in front of the Yerevan office of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).
They have also sent an open letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian.
The family asked for Russian assistance in the liberation of the soldier.
An interview of Injigulyan with an Azeri media outlet was posted on Monday night. The soldier said he "crossed the Armenian-Azeri border on purpose after his commander had beaten him for the refusal to go and fetch some water."
Armenian Defense Ministry press secretary Artsrun Hovannisian told reporters that an interview with a solider published by the media violated the Geneva Convention regarding prisoners of war.
"Clearly, the Armenian serviceman had to make that statement; he was forced to do so. So, I would like to stress that the serviceman will be exempt from punishment in the case of his return home," Hovannisian said.
The ICRC Yerevan office said they had not received direct confirmation of a meeting of the Red Cross Baku office with POW Injigulyan.
The Armenian media recalled Armenian shepherd Manvel Saribekian who was taken prisoner by Azerbaijan on September 11, 2010. The shepherd was branded a saboteur and his interview with an Azeri television channel was posted online several days later. Azerbaijan said Saribekian committed suicide early in the morning on October 5, 2011. His body was later transferred to Armenia.