Information about Azerbaijani soldier's will to receive Armenian citizenship released purposefully: Defence Ministry

"We have repeatedly faced Armenia's tricky policy. This message can be evaluated as a response to the fact that the Azerbaijani side has recently voluntarily surrendered two Armenian soldiers," member of the press service of Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan Teymur Abdullayev told Trend News on Tuesday.

Azerbajani soldier Rafig Hasanov wished to stay in Armenia and to receive the Armenian citizenship, Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanian said.

Hasanov was captured by Armenians on Oct. 8, 2008.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7 districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

The Armenian side tortures Hasanov and forces him to make such statements.

Ohan Harutunyan Vadinagiyevich and Gevorq Tomosyan Serzhikovich, soldiers of the training detachment of the 7th mountain rifle regiment of the Armenian Defense Ministry 38862 military unit, complained of unbearable conditions and tortures and said that they crossed to Azerbaijan due to this reason. Three more Armenian soldiers, Qrant Markosyan, Arthur Vartevyan and Alik Tevosyan were voluntarily captured by Azerbaijani army in Agjaduz area of Agdam region.

Azerbaijan has two hostages in Armenia currently.

/Trend News/