On January 29, 2014, Mr. Avanesyan received a summons to report to the Askeran City Military Commissariat in Nagorno-Karabakh. The following day, he filed an application explaining his conscientious objection to military service and expressing his willingness to perform alternative civilian service. He also sought the help of an attorney, knowing that Nagorno-Karabakh has no provision in place for alternative civilian service.

Since Mr. Avanesyan holds an Armenian passport, his attorney met with officials in Armenia as well as in Nagorno-Karabakh, and it appeared that Mr. Avanesyan would be allowed to carry out his alternative service in Armenia. Working toward this solution, Mr. Avanesyan moved to Armenia. On February 13, 2014, he submitted his application for alternative service to the Republic of Armenia Masis Military Commissariat.

Armenia’s alternative service board never called Mr. Avanesyan, but on July 14, 2014, the police in Yerevan, Armenia, summoned him to the central police station, where Nagorno-Karabakh police officers were waiting for him. They quickly arrested him and escorted him against his will from Yerevan to Askeran, Nagorno-Karabakh—a de facto extradition without hearing, court order, or other formalities.