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A criminal case has been initiated on the death of the citizen of Armenian Manvel Saribekyan captured by Azerbaijan on the murder committed with particular cruelty, Armenian Prosecutor General’s office said.

Manvel Saribekyan, the resident of Ttujur village of Gegharkunik region, born on February 27, 1990, was captured on September 11, 2010. According to the preliminary data, the 20-year-old young man took several cattle to the pasture. At about 05:00 p.m. because of fog he lost his way in the “Keghut” pasture and was captured by the Azerbaijanis after he found himself on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

On November 4, 2010 the Azerbaijani side returned to Armenia Manvel Saribekyan’s body who, according to the official statement made by Azerbaijan, died on October 5, 2010 as a result of strangulation.

The preliminary examination of the body showed that it wasn’t kept properly in Azerbaijan as the body was decomposed. According to the preliminary data of the forensic examination, there are signs of violence on the body which confirms that M. Saribekyan was inhumanly tortured.

The RA Prosecutor General has instructed to launch a criminal case in accordance with the RA Criminal Code Article 104, part 2 (murder committed with particular cruelty). The preliminary investigation of the criminal case has been tasked to the General Investigation Department of the RA Police. The results of the preliminary investigation and the forensic examination will be reported.