Statement from Russian Peacekeepers on the Return of Shepherd

Shepherd Surik Matevosyan from the Tegh community in the Syunik region, who was kidnapped by Azerbaijanis yesterday, has been handed over to representatives of the Armenian Armed Forces by Russian peacekeepers.

According to a press release from the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh, "Through the mediation of Russian peacekeepers and in cooperation with representatives from both sides, citizen S. Matevosyan has been handed over to representatives of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia."

Earlier, it was reported that yesterday, on January 13, Azerbaijani forces kidnapped the shepherd while he was grazing his sheep in the Tegh community of Syunik, along with approximately 500 sheep. According to the Human Rights Defender's office, at around 3:30 PM, four armed Azerbaijani servicemen, noticing the peaceful Armenian citizen, descended from their positions about 150 meters away, yelling and forcefully dragging him towards their side, in the direction of Tsitsernavank.