Nikol Pashinyan rejects prisoner swap involving detained Azerbaijani soldier

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected the possibility of using an Azerbaijani soldier, detained for an attack in Armenia, as leverage in prisoner exchange negotiations with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan stated that border crossing incidents should be treated separately from other detainee cases to avoid setting a precedent that could complicate future situations involving Armenian servicemen.

The soldier, identified as Nasimi Musayev, was arrested on October 1 in the village of Shaki in Armenia’s Syunik province. According to Armenian authorities, Musayev crossed the border and entered a private residence, where he shot a 39-year-old woman, Ani Avetisyan, while she attempted to protect her children. Avetisyan sustained serious injuries, including a gunshot wound to the leg and loss of fingers.

Musayev faces multiple charges in Armenia, including illegal border crossing, weapons smuggling, and causing serious bodily injury. Azerbaijani authorities have indicated that Musayev left his military unit in the Lachin area without authorization.