Azerbaijan needed an Armenian corpse to exchange with the Azerbaijani one: Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan

A group of international expertise must be created to examine the circumstances of Manvel Saribekyan's death, Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan, Head of Analytical Center Mitq, told a press conference today.

According to him, the expert should find out the reason of Saribekyan's death, as well as whether or not he was harassed and subjected to degrading treatment.

Further he said that in nowadays it is quite possible to create such conditions in the prison-cells so that the captives will be unable to commit suicide.

"Today they needed an Armenian corpse which would be exchanged with the corpse of an Azerbaijani [probably meaning Mubaris Ibrahimov]," said he, adding that in his opinion Saribekyan has not been lost but rather abducted by an Azerbaijani intelligence group.

According to him, that version is probable given occasions of Azerbaijani sabotage on the line of contact have recently become of frequent occurrence.

"Both his interview and his behavior are indicative of his being a villager," said he, once again questioning the Azerbaijani version of his identity.

Manvel Saribekyan is an Armenian citizen who, according to the official version, had inadvertently crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in search of his cattle and been seized by Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

Recently Azerbaijani media published a video interview with Saribekyan where he acknowledged being trained by Armenian special forces and was sent to Azerbaijan to conduct terror acts.

Later on Tuesday Azerbaijani Defense Ministry and Military Prosecutor's Office issued a joint statement, claiming that Saribekyan had committed suicide in his cell.

Armenian authorities question this version, saying Saribekyan was killed.