BRIEFING OF MAJOR-GENERAL VITALI BALASANYAN, DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER OF NKR
Support A1+!Briefing of NKR Deputy Defence Minister Vitali Balasanyan took place on January 29 in Stepanakert. He made a statement at the briefing. The statement says:
“A soldier of NKR Defence Army died as a result of an Azeri sniper’ shot at Aghdam direction on the contact-line of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabagh armed forces on January 28, 3:10 PM local time, 2003.
The action was carried out almost 3 hours later monitoring by OSCE mission in that territory. NKR Defence Ministry labels the action by Azeri part as breach of truce regime.
I consider it as necessary to remind that it is the second case of truce regime breach in this territory by Azeri part in January. Earlier, an attempt of the Azeri diversionary-reconnaissance group to make an incursion into Karabaghi territory was fixed. That’s why namely that place was chosen to carry out monitoring.
State of Elmeddin Abyev, Azerbaijani Army soldier, taken hostage by Karabaghi forces on January 8, is still grave. He is treated under safe conditions and is under permanent control of the local doctors.
As to Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Safar Abiev’s statement, saying talks with Armenian side over passing Elmeddin Abiev, continue, I want to say the given information runs counter to the real state of matters.
Taking into account the health condition of the wounded one and necessity for him to continue to be treated in Nagorno Karabagh, as doctors conclude, we again confirm our readiness to receive Abiev’s parents for meeting with their son, ensuring the absolute security of them at Karabagh territory”.
