The operation took place on the road between the Armenian town of Ijevan and the Azerbaijani town of Gazakh, at the international border.

Prior to his release and transfer, ICRC delegates had visited the detained civilian on several occasions, in order to assess his conditions of detention and treatment. The ICRC had also forwarded family news between the detainee and his relatives.

Acting as a neutral intermediary and in accordance with its mandate, the ICRC facilitated the transfer of the released civilian at the request of both the Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities. ICRC delegates had visited the civilian before the operation to ensure that he was returning of his own free will.