Armenian MoD: Askerov detained in the Karabakh conflict zone is suspected of killing teenager

Dilkham Askerov, an Azerbaijani citizen, who was detained in the Karabakh conflict zone on suspicion of illegal crossing the border, is suspected of killing Smbat Tsakanyan, a resident of Karabakh, said Seiran Oganyan, the head of the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 10 the press service of the Defence Army of Nagorno-Karabakh announced detention of several Azerbaijani militaries at "the attempt of a diversion and intelligence penetration." On July 14, the above Dilkham Askerov was detained, against whom a criminal case was opened for an illegal border crossing. Against this background, reports appeared that on July 4 Smbat Tsakanyan, 17, disappeared in Karvachar. His father asserts that he was kidnapped by Azeri saboteurs.

According to the police of Nagorno-Karabakh, on July 15 Tsakanyan's body was found in the mountains of the Karvachar District with gunshot wounds.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the General Prosecutor's Office of Nagorno-Karabakh that for the criminal investigation into the murder of the teenager an operative-investigation group had been set up, comprising agents of the National Security Service and the police.