By Armen Dulian
Azerbaijan on Thursday repatriated three Armenian nationals that were detained last month after straying into Azerbaijani territory in uncertain circumstances. Citing the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security, the Trend news agency reported that the handover was arranged by the International Committee of the Red Cross and took place in the westernmost section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontier, which is close to Georgia.
The Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman, Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, confirmed the information, saying that all three men are civilians. “They had accidentally crossed into Azerbaijan,” Shahsuvarian told RFE/RL. He said two of them entered Azerbaijani territory via Georgia but could not give further details.