Head of Armenian MoD treats Azerbaijan's information about Gazaryan as propaganda

Araik Gazaryan, a serviceman of the Defence Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), has deserted to the Azerbaijani side, possibly because he simply lost his way, David Tonoyan, the head of the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD), has suggested.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 12, the press service of the NKR's MoD informed that Araik Gazaryan, a soldier of the NKR's Defence Army, deserted to the side of Azerbaijan, claiming lawlessness in his military unit, the Azerbaijani MoD has stated.

The circumstances of how Araik Gazaryan found himself on the Azerbaijani side are not clear, but it is unacceptable to associate the haematomas and abrasions found on Gazaryan's body with any non-statute relationships in the army, the NKR's MoD has stated. The NKR's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) treats Gazaryan a prisoner of war and will seek his return to his homeland.

David Tonoyan, the Armenian Minister of Defence, said that an investigation is underway, but he "is more inclined to believe that Araik Gazaryan just got lost." He has urged "not to succumb to enemy's propaganda and not to spread the Azerbaijani version of border crossing by the soldier." The Armenian side has already appealed to the relevant international authorities in order to return Gazaryan to his homeland, the Minister has added.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 13, 2019 at 10:14 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.