Three Armenian soldiers who passed voluntarily to Azerbaijani territory want to head to a third country

Three Armenian servicemen Grant Markosyan, Rafik Tevosyan and Vardan Sargsyan who voluntarily passed to Azerbaijani territory on February 28 gave an exclusive interview to ANS TV. The servicemen who are all Armenian citizens crossed the contactline between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops in the territory of Aghdam region, Azerbaijan. They said the reason why they decided to pass to Azerbaijani side was due to injustice they faced in the Armenian army and their ailing health condition. Complaining of fractures in his spine, Grant Markosyan said his complaints were neglected while he was in the army. “I was complaining for last four months. I told dozens of times that I had a fracture on my spine and that it was severely aching. However, they neglected my complaints. They used to beat us frequently. They neither care, nor treat us. Therefore, I decided I could no longer serve under that condition. I informed the commander of the military unit where I was serving. Only after that they sent us to hospital."

The other captive Rafik Tevosyan said that a great deal of bribe is demanded from Armenians who do not wanrt to serve in Daqliq Qarabaq. Genarally, “dedovshina” is very strong in Daqliq Qarabaq Army.

“”Dedovshina” is reigning in the army. When we receive money officers take it from us. Elder soldiers beat us and make us to perform their tasks. I told my commander that I had problems with my kidney. But my words were not received seriously. My health state became worse and they had to take me to hospital. But I could not receive any treatment there. Chief of the hospital almost turned me out of the hospital”.

The health of Vardan Sargsyan, holding the same surname with the President of Armenia is in more serious in comparison with the other captives. He should have been released from military service due to his internal diseases. But a great deal of money was demanded from him. “I was demanded USD 15 000. But we had not so much money. When I addressed to my company commander with this regard he made a game of me as he did with others. He did not pay attention to me. Therefore my disease became worse. Then I addressed the battalion commander and was hospitalized after many difficulties. But I could not receive any treatment in the hospital”, he said.

After long humiliations and difficulties the soldiers decided to pass to Azerbaijani side and they do not want to return to Armenia any more. “We decided to run away and to come to Azerbaijan. We knew everything is OK in Azerbaijan. Therefore we want to pass to the third countries. Because there is no life for us in Armenia. Life is impossible in Armenia”, Armenian captive Grant Markosyan said.

Paruyr Simonyan who took refuge in Azerbaijan 10 months ago underlining his counterparts made a right decision considers the number of soldiers running away from Armenian army will be more. “I think these persons have taken a courageous step. Because serving in Armenian army is impossible. I have told the reason of that. These persons suffered the same tortures as I had. Coming to Azerbaijan they made a very optimistic decision. These persons did not want to serve and ran away from the army. As far as I know, this person had problems with his kidney. And they knowing this send him to serve in the army”, he added.

Remind that, Azerbaijani government is holding talks with regard to sending Paruyr Simonyan to the third countries.