YEREVAN. – An Armenian family repatriated on Friday told what they had to endure in Azerbaijan (photo).

On Friday afternoon Azerbaijan handed over the family of Yeghishe Gevorgyan – father, mother and three children – to Armenia under the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“We were in a state of slaves. They did whatever they wanted,” Gevorgyan said, adding that they were kept in military police in Baku. “We lived in a corridor,” his wife Ruzanna said.

Moreover, Ruzanna was forced to make an abortion, threatening to kill the husband unless she agreed. Ruzanna said the ICRC representatives were informed “about her”.

Yegishe added that they were questioned, and were made to say that “there was no genocide”. He confirmed that while crossing the border their vehicle was shelled by Azerbaijanis.

The Gevorgyan couple said they wanted to leave for a third country, but Azerbaijani authorities decided not to permit them. They were approached by a man named Rafik who offered them to stay in Azerbaijan and bear an Azerbaijani name. The Gevorgyans refused and were beaten. “We had to declare a hunger strike or threaten with a suicide to permit access to ICRC or UN,” Yeghishe said.

According to Gevorgyan, Armenian shepherd Manvel Saribekyan (killed in Azerbaijani captivity - Ed) was kept in the cell directly under the place where their family lived. “I know that he was hanged,” says Gevorgyan. Later Hakob Injighulyan (returned to Armenia in October, through a third country - Ed) was kept in the same cell.

“And I'm sorry that my children had to go through it all, to live with the enemy for so many years,” Gevorgyan. “We are happy to be back home,” Ruzanna added.

 “The reasons of crossing the border are being clarified,” said Andranik Mkrtumyan, representative of the Commission on hostages, POWs and missing persons.