POW Won’t Be Criminally Prosecuted If He Returns to Armenia: Deputy Defense Minister

Armenia reaffirms that it is not preparing to criminally prosecute Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan. At a meeting with UNHCR Representative in Armenia Christoph Bierwirth today, First RA Defense Deputy Minister David Tonoyan discussed the situation concerning Injighulyan (pictured), who is being held captive by Azerbaijan.

According to a press release issued by the RA Ministry of Defense, Tonoyan referred to a recent statement by Secretary of Azerbaijan's State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons Shahin Sailov published by Azerbaijani media that the Armenian POW requested to be sent to a third country. According to the Armenian deputy minister, if this is not yet another propaganda stunt on Azerbaijan's part, then the logical follow-up is the involvement of the UNHCR office in Baku to proceed, as per its mandate, with establishing refugee status for Injighulyan.

The first deputy minister also informed the UNHCR representative that on several occasions, Armenia has reiterated its pledge not to criminally prosecute Injighulyan, thus eliminating the possibility of the fear of being persecuted, especially when there are no grounds based on race, nationality, religion, political views, or otherwise that support this fear. 

According to Tonoyan, granting Injighulyan refugee status is perhaps an opportunity for him to avoid physical abuse, torture, or other tragic consequences, as has occurred in the case of previous POWs (particularly that of Manvel Saribekyan, an Armenian shepherd killed while held captive by Azerbaijan). 
The UNHCR representative promised to convey the Armenian first deputy minister's position to the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva. He also emphasized the UNHCR's independence in the process of determining refugee status and its exclusively humanitarian, non-political mandate.

Recall, on Aug. 8, Injighulyan was taken prisoner by Azerbaijani troops when he got lost and found himself on the other side of the border. RA Ministry of Defense spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan earlier said that a preliminary investigation allows the Ministry of Defense to assert that Injighulyan did not commit a criminal act. It has been proven and established that the conscript found himself in the area controlled by Azerbaijani troops as a result of getting lost, and he will not be criminally prosecuted if he returns to Armenia.