Armenian serviceman Hakob Injigulyan, who had been held captive in Azerbaijan for a year, arrived back to Armenia via a third country overnight.
On his arrival at Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan, Injigulyan told reporters he had to refuse from repatriation to Armenia from the Azeri captivity; otherwise he would face execution like the Armenian shepherd Manvel Saribekyan, who was executed in Azeri captivity.
Injigulyan told reporters he was forced to publicly declare in an interview that he intentionally crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Meanwhile, he just lost bearings on the terrain. Before the meeting with the
ICRC representatives, he was told what to speak and how. In Azeri captivity he was even dictated the content of his letters to the family. They even tried to get data from him, Injigulyan said. He was kept in a military facility with other Armenians.
Nevertheless, Injigulyan assured reporters that he feels good and is determined to continue his army service for the remaining 9 months. "I don't want to live in any country besides Armenia," Injigulyan said. To recall, the Armenian soldier fell captive on 8 August 2013 after losing bearing on the terrain. After a year-long negotiations, the Azerbaijani party finally agreed to transfer Injigulyan to a third country, wherefrom he has returned to Armenia.