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The family of 23-year-old Armenian citizen Arsen Khojoyan who crossed the border into Azerbaijan and was taken captive on March 7 is in an extremely bad condition, Khojoyan’s relative Heghine Khojoyan told Panorama.am. 

APA reported yesterday that secretary of the State Commission on POWs, Hostages and Missing Persons Shahin Sailov said that an Armenian citizen aged 20-22, whose identity is unknown and who speaks only Armenian, was detained in Tovuz region of Azerbaijan. He was dressed in civilian clothes. The man’s photo was published later. It was reported that he was Arsen Khojoyan, 23, resident of Verin Karmiraghbyur village in Tavush province.

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said that no Armenian soldier crossed the border with Azerbaijan. He said that Khojoyan was previously a contract soldier in an Armenian military unit and was later demobilized.

Head of Verin Karmiraghbyur village Kamo Chobanyan told Panorama.am that Arsen Khojoyan is a distant relative of 77-year-old Mamikon Khojoyan who was recently released from Azeri captivity and was tortured while being held captive. According to him, the 23-year-old is engaged in livestock farming and in all likelihood he lost his way in a thick fog.

Heghine Khojoyan, who is the daughter of Mamikon Khojoyan, said that Arsen Khojoyan’s family lives in hard social conditions. They have one daughter and six sons. Livestock farming is the only way to support the family. Their housing conditions are poor. She said that Arsen’s parents are currently in a bad psychological state, crying and blaming themselves. She added that Arsen is a good and clever guy and has no health problems.