Enemy Armed Group Crosses Armenian Border and Kidnaps Soldiers, Investigative Committee Reports

On May 26 at 18:30, servicemen Harutyun Yuriki Hovagimyan and Karen Ashti Ghazaryan from the Armenian Ministry of Defense's N military unit were transporting food to one of the combat positions located in the southeastern direction of Armenia. After making the delivery, communication with them was lost on their return from the position.

According to information from the Armenian Investigative Committee, the search operations revealed that their vehicle, a "Kamaz 43114," was found on the road leading to the combat position, in an area behind the Armenian Armed Forces' positions, with the engine still running. A single AK-74 type assault rifle was discovered in the vehicle; however, the two servicemen were not found.

Preliminary data indicates that an armed group from the enemy side crossed into Armenian territory and kidnapped the soldiers. Given the existing indications of illegal border crossing by Azerbaijani armed forces, kidnapping of servicemen, and actions taken against their will, a criminal case has been initiated under Articles 191 (2) (1, 5, 6, 9), 338 (2) (1), and 469 (3) (2) of the Armenian Criminal Code in the ninth investigative division of the Military Investigative Main Division of the Investigative Committee. Comprehensive investigative measures are being conducted to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the illegal border crossing and the kidnapping of soldiers by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.