On November 4, 2010 the Azerbaijani side returned to Armenia the body of the resident of Ttujur village of Gegharkunik region Manvel Saribekyan who, according to the official announcement made by Azerbaijan died on October 5, 2010 as a result of strangulation.

The RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan tasked to initiate a criminal case according to the RA Criminal Code Article 104, part 2, points 5 and 13 (murder committed with particular cruelty and out of motives of national, race or religious hate or fanatism) by the RA Police. The preliminary investigation of the criminal case was tasked to the Investigation Department of the National Security Service adjunct to the RA Government.

The RA Prosecutor General in December 2010 sent a letter to the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Zakir Bekir with the request to provide assistance to the investigation of the criminal case, in particular to inform whether any investigation on the case of Manvel Mamikon Saribekyan’s violent death had been carried out by the Investigation Bodies of Azerbaijan and if there had been, to send the criminal case or the materials of the criminal case. The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia had also assured that the received data and documents would be used only in the framework of the investigation.

On April 5, 2011 the RA Prosecutor General also sent a letter to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Prosecutors General of the CIS Member States Yuri Chaika. The letter, in particular, read:

“In order to carry out comprehensive and complete investigation and guided by the Minsk Convention “On Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters” 22 January 1993, the RA Prosecutor General on December 14, 2010 sent a letter to the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Mr. Zakir Bekir with the request to provide assistance to the investigation of the mentioned criminal case, in particular to inform whether any investigation on the case of Manvel Mamikon Saribekyan’s violent death had been carried out by the Investigation Bodies of Azerbaijan and if there had been, to send the criminal case or the materials of the criminal case. The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia had also assured that the received data and documents would be used only in the framework of the investigation.

Taking into consideration that the implementation of the above-mentioned actions are essential for making a final decision, I ask you to assist us to get an answer to our letter.

The RA General Prosecutor's Office hopes that our effective cooperation will be continued.”