YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan sent a letter to his Russian counterpart Yuri Chaika requesting assistance in Manvel Saribekyan’s case.

It in particular refers to mediation of the Russian side between the prosecutors of Armenia and Azerbaijan, prosecutor’s office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Manvel Saribekyan, resident of Ttu Jur village of Armenia, was taken into Azerbaijan’s captivity last September. Saribekyan was a civilian, a shepherd, while Azerbaijan persistently called him an Armenian saboteur. Later it was reported he allegedly hang himself on October 5. The Armenian side claims he was either killed or forced to commit a suicide. It was proved by the fact that the Azerbaijani side refused to return his body for a month. On November 4, Azerbaijan handed his body to the Armenian side under agreement reached by Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian leaders during their meeting in Astrakhan last October.

Criminal proceedings were instituted under Article 104 of RA Criminal Code (murder committed with extreme cruelty due to national, racial or religious hatred or religious fanaticism).

Results of forensic examination revealed death of Manvel Saribekyan was caused by mechanical asphyxia by compression of the neck which means he hanged himself or was hanged. Signs of torture and violence, inflicted 1-2 days before his death, were found on his body.