Astronomer from Russia Detained in Azerbaijan

Moscow / 15.01.18 / Turan: A researcher at the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dmitry Chulkov, who came to Azerbaijan as a tourist, disappeared after visiting the border zone, his mother, Olga Chulkova, told RIA Novosti.

According to her, on January 3 her son flew a direct flight from Moscow to Gandja. Two days later he decided to visit Lake Goygol, 50 kilometers to the south of Gandja, which is near the front line (the northern sector of contact of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops), after which he ceased to communicate. On January 10, he was supposed to fly back to Moscow, but this did not happen.

"According to unofficial sources, he was detained by the border services," Olga Chulkova said.

"He went into the restricted area, where he was caught," said the host of the hotel in Gandja, where Chulkov lived. He specified that he was contacted by members of the State Security Service who arrived at the hotel, asked about the guest and seized all the things of the young man.

They said that Chulkov specifically climbed over the fence of the restricted area and did not obey the requirements of the guards.

Later, Olga Chulkova reported that Dmitry had contacted her. He told her he was given food and promised to be released and sent to Moscow. "He repeated several times that they did not beat him," she said. According to Chulkova, she was also contacted from the Russian Embassy and assured that the young man is not threatened with anything.

The Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan was informed by local authorities about the detention of a Russian citizen, and measures are being taken to return him to his homeland as soon as possible, the Embassy"s press officer Denis Apashkin told RIA Novosti on Saturday.

In the State Security Service of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they did not comment on Chulkov"s detention for the Turan news agency. -02D-