STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Private Hambartsum Asaturian, 23, a recruit of the NKR Defence Army, on August 4 left his military unit voluntarily, crossed Karabakh's state border under unknown circumstances and "found shelter of the Azeris". According to a press release of the NKR DA Press and Propaganda Unit, H. Asaturian had evaded compulsory military service for five years and was made to start his military service for a fixed period in May 2007. The commaders of the military unit decsribed H. Asaturian as a difficult soldier inclined to evade military service. It was mentioned after the swearing ceremony he mutilateded himself, in connection with which a case was opened by military prosecutor's office. An internal investigation is being conducted into the case.

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