There has been a lull on the line of contact since the Armenian-Azerbaijan presidential meeting in Astrakhan, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defense Office, Lieutenant-Colonel Eldar Sabiroghlu told journalists.

Both the sides observe the ceasefire, and no war casualties have been registered.

According to Sabiroghlu, over 1,000 cease-fire violations have been registered this year. “Official Baku will not agree to endless negotiations. Armenia is protracting the negotiations for the conflict to remain unsettled. This will cause tension, which, in turn, will cause grave consequences. Armenia’s military leadership must think of it seriously,” he said.

The Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian President issued a joint statement following their meeting in Astrakhan, Oct. 27.

The sides negotiated the return of eight POWs (two civilians and two dead bodies). The Azeri side was to hand over the body of Manvek Saribekyan and the Armenian side the body of Muraz Ibrahimov.

Saribekyan was arrested on September 11 on the frontline of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Azerbaijani side called him an Armenian saboteur. Shortly after his detention, Azerbaijan’s ANS TV broadcast a report in which Manvel Saribekyan was identified “for his training in subversive activities in Azerbaijan.’’ The corresponding video appeared on YouTube.

Subsequently, information was received from Baku that “Saribekyan had committed suicide.” According to a report Manvel Saribekyan was found with a strangulated scar on the neck characteristic to a person who has been hanged and forensic experts did not find traces of violence on his body.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, Saribekyan was a lost shepherd who was looking for his missing cattle and crossed the Armenia-Azerbaijani border; Azerbaijan persistently said Saribekyan was a member of an Armenian diversion group. Following this, the Azerbaijani propaganda machine spread an “interview” with Mr. Saribekyan through YouTube, in which he stated that he had been trained for terrorist acts on Azerbaijan’s territory. However, expert assessment of the video concluded that the video was filmed under physical and psychological pressure.

On October 26, Azerbaijani authorities handed over the death certificate of the deceased to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Order of the Prosecutor General of Armenia initiated criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 104 of RA Criminal Code (premeditated murder with extreme cruelty).

After the examination held in Armenia, doctors concluded that Saribekyan’s death occurred as a result of violence.