Azerbaijan returns Armenian civilian kidnapped earlierJanuary 14, 2022 - 16:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Azerbaijani military kidnapped an Armenian civilian on Friday, January 13 in the southern province of Syunik and transferred the man to Russian peacekeepers later in the day. Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan reported earlier that the man, a shepherd named Surik Matevosyan, was leading a flock of sheep to pasture when he was abducted by Azerbaijani servicemen and dragged, alongside the animals, towards their positions. According to a statement from Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, the civilian, "who got lost near the border", has been handed over to the Russian peacekeepers deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). Tatoyan cited a witness as saying that the Azerbaijani troops, after noticing the shepherd, came down from the positions and dragged him back with them. "The incessant crimes of the Azerbaijani armed forces against the civilians of the Republic of Armenia make it impossible for people to lead a normal life, deprive them of the opportunity to earn a living and engage in agriculture, and are causing social problems. This incident proves that there should be no Azerbaijani servicemen near the villages of the Republic of Armenia," the ombudsman's added. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |