Spokesman for Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev has issued a statement on launching a criminal case against the family members of Yegishe Gevorgyan, who voluntarily crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and afterwards was handed over to this country, by National Security Service of Armenia, the Foreign Ministry told.

Hajiyev said that a few years ago, Yegishe Gevorgyan with his family members voluntarily crossed to the territory of Azerbaijan to escape from the dire situation and extreme poverty they face in Armenia: “Proceeding from the principles of humanism, the Azerbaijani side created normal condition for maintenance of Yegishe Gevorgyan and his family members. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has regularly visited the family".

According to Hajiyev, Gevorgyan, who intended to migrate to a third country due to his criminal past, was not accepted by other states. Under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, he was returned to Armenia on December 12, 2014: “However, Armenia took hostage Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev and brutally killed Hasan Hasanov who visited the graves of his parents in their native land. It held a so-called trial of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev. Under international humanitarian law, such behavior against civilians is unacceptable.

Armenian military dictatorship regime demonstrates such kind of inhuman behavior against its citizens as well. Yegishe Gevorgyan and his family members were forced to make public statements under the threats, inhuman, physical and psychological torture of Armenia intelligence agencies after being handed over to their country. The worst thing is that Armenia does not hesitate to use this family’s children in its vile propaganda.”

On December 15, 2014, the Foreign Ministry commented on this issue and stated that like other citizens of Armenia who were handed over to this country, the Gevorgyan family will also undergo tortures and be detained in prisons of the Armenian intelligence agencies for a long time. Therefore, taking into account the nature of Armenia`s military dictatorship regime, prosecution of Yegishe Gevorgyan by the country’s intelligence agencies was expected”.

Armenian citizens Yegishe and Ruzanna Gevorgyan with their three children children passed to the Azerbaijani territory in January, 2010. A criminal case was launched against them under Article 329 (illegal state border crossing without relevant documents or permits). This article provides for maximum 3 years imprisonment. Under the criminal case, Yegishe and Ruzanna Gevorgyan will be interrogated as accused persons.

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