Russian partners in talks with Azerbaijan on return of six captured Armenian servicemen

YEREVAN, May 27. /ARKA/. The Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Edward Asryan said at a press conference today that Armenia's Russian partners were involved in talks which were underway in Baku on the return of six Armenian servicemen taken prisoner by the Azerbaijani armed forces earlier today.

According to him, Azerbaijani troops advanced 800 meters into the Armenian territory in the early hours of May 27 surrounded and captured 6 Armenian servicemen who were carrying out engineering work to beef up the protection of the border in Gegharkunik province.

He said that the Armenian side gave Azerbaijan one hour to return the captured military personnel.

He said after the deadline expired, Russian peacekeepers in Stepanakert got in touch with the Armenian side to say that Russian representatives were in Baku negotiating the return of captured Armenian servicemen.

For this reason after the end of the deadline , the Armenian side did not resort to other measures, according to Asryan.

"If the enemy does not fulfill our conditions for the return of our servicemen, which we presented, then a corresponding plan will be implemented, which I cannot present here," Asryan said.

In the meantime Armenian prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the illegal crossing of the state border of Armenia by Azerbaijani servicemen and capture and abduction of six Armenian servicemen with the use of weapons and violence, dangerous to life and health. -0-