Saribekyan in Azerbaijan was Subjected to Torture: Defense Ministry

Armenia’s Ministry of Defense yesterday issued a statement on reports from Azerbaijani media that Manvel Saribekyan, who had been taken captive by Azerbaijani soldiers, had committed suicide while in their custody.

The statement from the ministry reads:

“Despite Armenia’s explanations that the young man was an average shepherd who had wandered and found himself on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, Azerbaijan persistently insisted that Saribekyan, who was on the other side of the border on Sept. 11, was a member of a ‘diversion’ group. 

“Then the Azerbaijani propaganda machine disseminated a video online in which the young Armenian said that, allegedly, they have specially prepared him in Azerbaijan to carry out a terrorist act. However, it is clearly apparent in the video that the young man was subject to torture.”

Editor’s Note: at 6:44 pm on Oct. 6, 2010, “Samvel Saribekyan” was corrected to “Manvel Saribekyan.”