Shahin Sayilov, the Secretary of the State Committee for Affairs with Prisoners of War, Missing Persons, and Hostages informed Trend that the Committee has not yet received any official request from an Azerbaijan prisoner of war, Sergeant Samir Mammadov, who allegedly, as some Azerbaijan media sources reports, insists on handing him over to a third party.
Samir Mammadov passed his military service in a Military Unit in Gazakh District of Azerbaijan bordering with Armenia. He was captured by Armenians from the distance of 15 km from his Military Unit on the territory where the Gazakh District of Azerbaijan borders with Idjevan District of Armenia on December 23, 2006. Neither weapons nor ammunition was with him. Up to now, the Azerbaijan soldier has been kept in Yerevan.
Armenians had not incited the Azerbaijani soldier until some Azerbaijan media sources began spreading pieces of information that Samir Mammadov would be arrested as soon as he returns to the motherland. However, no accusations have been initiated toward our soldier, said Mr. Sayilov.
The last letter written by the Azerbaijan soldier was sent on February 6. As Mr. Sayilov said, our soldier had not mentioned anything about possible handing him over to a third party.