On 1 January, 2023, Toros Ghazaryan, a resident of Chartar town, Martunu region, Artsakh Republic, who is engaged in cattle breeding, did not return home from the pasture, in connection with which search operations were initiated. Since there was a high probability that the latter, having health problems, could get lost and cross the territory under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, this was also reported to the leadership of the Russian Peacekeeping Troops in Artsakh in order to get information from the Azerbaijani side. From 1 January to today, the Azerbaijani side not only did not confirm, but also denied that T. Ghazaryan was under their control.

The National Security Service of the Republic of Artsakh reported.

In order not to endanger the life and health of our citizen, we continued the negotiations with the Azerbaijani side through the mediation of the peacekeepers without publicity, as a result of which Azerbaijan today confirmed the fact that T. Ghazaryan is at them and handed him over at the blocked section of the Stepanakert-Goris highway to the Russian peacekeepers for political and propaganda reasons, conveying other nuances and giving the desired comments and evaluations.

Toros Ghazaryan, who was transferred to the Artsakh side, has already been examined, the doctors assessed his state of health as satisfactory. Within the framework of the criminal proceedings initiated by the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Artsakh, all measures will be taken to fully clarify the circumstances of the case of the citizen T. Ghazaryan coming under the control of the armed forces of Azerbaijan.

Today’s staging by the Azerbaijani side proves once again that their goal is not to face the reality and accept it, but to mislead the international community and the domestic audience with false theses and propaganda materials.