Armenia to Hand Over Azerbaijani Soldier as a Gesture of Goodwill

As a gesture of goodwill and in accordance with the agreements reached at the highest level between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia has decided to hand over Azerbaijani soldier Ruslan Eldaniz-Oghlu Penakhov to the Azerbaijani side.

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia issued a statement, which particularly mentions: "On February 28 of this year, at around 05:15, an Azerbaijani serviceman, Ruslan Eldaniz-Oghlu Penakhov, who had crossed the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border, was discovered by the Armenian Armed Forces in the Tegh community area of Syunik Province. In connection with the incident, a criminal proceeding was initiated in the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. The investigation revealed that the Azerbaijani serviceman, who crossed the state border of the Republic of Armenia, ended up near the positions of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia after fleeing from an incident that occurred among Azerbaijani servicemen and becoming lost." As a show of good will and in compliance with the agreements reached at the highest levels between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, regarding the prompt return of lost soldiers of both sides, the Republic of Armenia has decided to hand over Ruslan Eldaniz-Oghlu Penakhov to the Azerbaijani side."