YEREVAN. – European Court of Human Rights will consider the case of Manvel Saribekyan, who was killed in Azerbaijani captivity, on priority order, attorney Ara Ghazaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Saribekyan unintentionally crossed the Azerbaijani border on September 11, 2010 and did not return back. Azerbaijani media on September 18 informed about captive Armenian, who was called an Armenian agent that entered Azerbaijani territory if for making terroristic act. No evidence of Azerbaijani allegations was provided except for the public interview of Saribekyan taken in captivity (which was direct violation of international agreements). On October 5, 2011, Azerbaijani MOD and military prosecutor service informed that Saribekyan has committed a suicide. However, his corpse was returned to Armenian side almost one month later in order to remove major traces of violence from the body.

Armenian side instigated criminal proceedings. Medical forensic expertise revealed a lot wounds and injuries on the body of the dead Saribekyan and signs of tortures.

The report for the European Court states that Azerbaijan in any case should have been responsible for a human life in prison. Regarding the injuries, it is not excluded that he has undergone tortures before death.

Armenian Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan had earlier written a letter to the head of the Coordinator Council of Prosecutors General (CCPG) of CIS member states Yury Chaika asking to cooperate in Saribekyan’s case. CCPG informed that the letter was directed to the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General. However, the Armenian side has received no answer from the Azerbaijani side so far.