Armenian hostage released from Azeri captivity (updated)April 10, 2014 - 13:31 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Arsen Khojoyan, the Armenian citizen who crossed the line of contact into Azerbaijan was handed to Armenia today, April 10. As Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in his Facebook post, Kojoyan is currently being transported to Ijevan hospital for medical examination. Earlier, the secretary of Azerbaijan’s State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons Shahin Sailov told APA that representatives of the Commission and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are in Gazakh and holding talks with the opposite side. Khojoyan was expected to be handed over to Armenia following the talks. Meanwhile, a representative of the ICRC Yerevan Office Zara Amatuni refused to confirm the information above, adding that the official report is only released upon successful completionof talks and return of captives. “Negotiations to return Arsen Khojoyan, an Armenian citizen who crossed the line of contact into Azerbaijan are under way, the secretary of Azerbaijan’s State Commission for Prisoners of War,” Hostages and Missing Persons said on April 3. Shahin Sailov didn’t rule out the possibility that the captive might be returned within a month. Sailov also noted that the captive expressed no wish to be transferred into the third country, Day.az reported. Arsen Khojoyan crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on March 7. According to preliminary information, he lost his way in a thick fog. The 23-year old is a relative of Mamikon Khojoyan, 77 who was released from Azeri captivity in March. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. EU still discussing funding Armenia through European Peace Facility Discussions continue in the EU on providing Armenia with funds from the European Peace Facility, Vassilis Maragos says. |