Andranik Grigoryan: I surrender to the Azerbaijani side to avoid senseless death

The identity of the Armenian serviceman who voluntarily surrendered to the Azerbaijani side on March 22 has been established, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has announced. He is a military contractor of the Armenian armed forces, Andranik Grigoryan, born in the Khojavand district in 1991.

Grigoryan said he surrendered to the Azerbaijani side because he feared a senseless death. "I was not alone while crossing the front line. Another soldier attempted to cross to your side with me. But I moved faster. I threw my gun down and came towards your side. I don't know what happened to him. I think that he isn't alive anymore," APA cited Grigoryan as saying.

"Though the Armenian government wanted to hide the incident which took place on March 19 from the people, everybody is aware of it. More than 20 soldiers were killed and dozens wounded during a trivial provocation. Civilians are taken to the posts due to a shortage of soldiers," he said.

"I do not want to be the next victim of their dirty games. The horrific conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh, indiscipline in military units, lack of ammunition, shortage of food and medicine, a conflict between the local Armenians and Armenian Armenians, the officers’ bad attitude towards the soldiers and ensigns, and the disorder have worn me out," Grigoryan complained.

"There are a lot of people tired of living in such conditions and wanting to cross to Azerbaijan like me. But frankly, they don’t dare to do it, as they don’t know what awaits them here. I also thought a lot before taking this step, then decided to surrender voluntarily, instead of waiting for my death. In sharp contrast to my expectations, they welcomed me here normally and gave me enough food and drink," he said.

Grigoryan also talked about the terrible situation prevailing in the units of the Armenian armed forces, the lack of weapons and food, and conflicts among the servicemen.

"I want to tell my friends involuntarily holding a weapon that the Azerbaijanis are not like the criminal authorities described for years. Act like me, before it is too late,” Grigoryan said, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.