December 6, 2014 - 15:29 AMT
Azeri soldier who filmed Armenian copter downing punished

The soldier who filmed the downing of the Armenian helicopter by the Azeri armed forces on November 2 has been punished, Azeri media report.

The statement came from the Azeri Defense Ministry spokesman Vagif Dergahly in response to a comment by MP Agil Abbas.

At a December 5 information security meeting hosting government and media representatives, Abbas asked whether the soldier who posted the footage on Armenian helicopter downing online, was punished.

According to Dergahly, the soldier was immediately identified: “serious measures were taken in this regard. Further details cannot be disclosed in view of the classified nature of the information.”

Mi-24 helicopter belonging to the Nagorno Karabakh army was shot during a training flight as result of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani armed forces on Nov 12, at about 1pm local time. The attack took place not far from the line of contact.

The NKR State Commission on prisoners of war, hostages and the missing persons appealed to the International Committee of Red Cross mission in the NKR with regards to the fate of the crewmembers, one of whom could possibly survive the crash. However, Azerbaijan continued to keep the site under fire.

As a result of a special operation on Nov 21 night, NKR armed forces retrieved the body of one crew member, the remains of two pilots and some helicopter wreckage.