The Armenian serviceman in Azerbaijan got geographically lost. The defense minister of Armenia, Davit Tonoyan, expressed this view Tuesday, speaking with reporters in Dilijan town.

“An investigation is still being conducted,” he said. “[But] I personally believe that our military serviceman [Arayik Ghazaryan] got geographically lost.”

Reacting to statements by the Azerbaijani side that, allegedly, this Armenian soldier had crossed the border due to being pressured by his commanders, Tonoyan urged not to take the Azerbaijani propaganda seriously, and not to disseminate such “reports.”

“I have an inner conviction that he just got lost,” the Armenian defense minister said.

Asked if steps were taken to have this soldier returned, Tonoyan said this work had already begun and they have petitioned to the relevant international organizations.

The defense minister said he does not yet know whether this soldier has had any psychological issues.

“That will become clear as a result of the work,” he added. “It’s a sad event for all of us, but I believe it’s going to be okay. I call on my Azerbaijani colleagues to stop that ‘informational’ work.”

On Monday at about noon, Arayik Ghazaryan (born in 2000), a serviceman of a military unit of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), left his combat post under yet unknown circumstances, informed the press service of the Artsakh Ministry of Defense.

According to Azerbaijani media reports, this soldier is now in Azerbaijan.

An investigation is conducted to find out the details of this incident.