Karabakh to U.S. State Dept.: return of Azeri saboteurs impossible

PanARMENIAN.Net - The press secretary of the Nagorno Karabakh president expressed astonishment over the U.S. Department of State’s recent call for return of Azerbaijani saboteurs, Tert.am reports.

“I don’t think it is possible; we have already voiced our position,” David Babayan told Tert.am, when asked to comment on the possibility of Azerbaijan’s future claims in the wake of Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki’s reiteration of Assistant Secretary Victoria Nuland’s earlier call.

One of the saboteurs, Dilham Askerov, was given a life sentence in Azerbaijan. The other, Shahbaz Quliev, was convicted for 22 years in prison over charges of spying, border infiltration, illegal use of arms and arm supplies, kidnapping and murder.

Describing the United States’ call as somewhat strange, Babayan noted that Azerbaijan has more important issues to focus on.

“Azerbaijan, which glorifies axe-murderer Ramil Safarov as a hero, hasn’t for some reason faced any calls. And now the Azerbaijani lobby keeps making certain attempts. [The issue] has long been closed. There was a major humanitarian gesture on our part and an open and transparent trial appropriate to a democratic country,” he added.