The RA Prosecutor General’s Office continues providing intermediary information on the investigations undertaken by the law enforcement bodies of the Republic of Armenia on crimes committed during Artsakh war 2020.

 

Regarding factual data received during the war more than 2000 criminal cases were initiated according to Articles 235, 238, 307.4, 308, 327, 356, 358, 359, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 372, 373, 375, 376, 299, 302, 311, 312, 313, 177, 178 of the RA Criminal Code at the Military General Department of the RA Investigative Committee, territorial subdivisions of the RA Investigative Committee, Investigation Department of the RA NSS and RA SIS. Cases were joined in several case files, the investigations of which are carried out by investigation groups. In the scope of those criminal cases the following subjects are being investigated:

 

• Alleged violations in the process of conscription, recruitment, their nature, inclusion, as well as cases of recruitment of conscripts from military units or places of service, escape, movement and other cases of organizing transportation to safer places, including by means of bribery;
• Cases of illegal acquisition, smuggling or extortion of weapons, explosives or explosive devices intended for military operations during the whole war were transported from the Republic of Artsakh to the Armenia, illegal transportation, theft or extortion of clothing, military clothing provided to a serviceman for personal use during martial law, or items of military equipment cases of loss or damage of weapons, ammunition or other military property entrusted to him/her, violation of the rules of their protection;
• Crimes against military service during the war - avoidance of conscription, disobedience to orders, desertion, termination of military service because of amputation, refusal to perform military obligations, violation of the rules of military obligations or military service, negligence towards service, violations of the rules of fighting and resisting to the enemy attack on time;
• Circumstances of leading the operations of the troop units in the southern directions of Mekhakavan, Horadiz, Hadrut, movement of the enemy in the southern direction of the RA borders and Shushi - the center of the Republic of Artsakh, the occupation of settlements. Investigation is undertaken regarding Mekhakavan, Hadrut and in the direction of center of the Republic of Artsakh, Nzhdeh ("Lele-Tepe"), Mets Tagher, Taghavard, Sghnakh, Qarin Tak, Shushi, which were publicly presented on various platforms as well as all the information received from the parents and relatives of the missing servicemen, indicating the existence of criminal features, in order to find out the circumstances of the abuse of official position, official negligence, circumstances of non-compliance with the order by the officials,
• abuse of authority or official position by a commander or officials during military operations, various episodes of inaction, changes in the movements and actions of units, possible criminal disadvantages and mistakes during the management and implementation of hostilities at the tactical and strategic levels;
• certain cases of taking money from missing servicemen’s parents, captives and relatives, including large-scale cases of embezzlement, as well as high treason;

 

During the war, high-ranking officials received information and data on possible handover of Artsakh territories in exchange for billions of dollars as a result of a link between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, which had negative influence in regard with effectiveness of the armed forces, contradicting the regulations of the RA Ministry of Defense;

The circumstances of abuse of authority in the sphere of weapons, defense equipment, military equipment, supplies, purposefulness and efficiency of food procurement, complying with the security needs of the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Artsakh.

 

 

The investigations of the mentioned criminal cases are carried out in an unprecedented volume. In order to ensure their completeness, objectivity comprehensiveness, as well as legally assess their influence on the tragic consequences of the war as a whole, large-scale investigative, judicial, operative investigative measures are being carried out.

 

Over 150 people (including the President of the Republic of Armenia, Commander of Defense Army, Counselor of President of the Republic of Artsakh, Former secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh, etc.). Over twenty seizures, searches were carried out, proper investigative and procedural actions are undertaken.

 

Decisions were made on involvement 800 people as an accused, including high rank officers of the RA Armed Forces.

 

 

In general, 48 criminal cases on 55 people were sent to the court, out of them:

 

• 25 cases on 28 persons for acquisition, turnover, realization of weapons, ammunition, explosive devices,
• 8 cases on 8 persons for theft or attempt of theft from the relatives of the RA citizens in Azerbaijan, missing persons,
• 7 cases  on 8 persons for leaving the military unit or place of service voluntarily during martial law,
• 1 case on 3 persons for amputation, disease simulation,
• For preparing, organizing forgery of documents,
• 1 case on a person for violating the rules of military relations in the absence of subordinate relations in case of martial law,
• 2 cases for 2 persons for desertion during martial law,
• 1 case for 1 person for refusing to perform military service during martial law;
• 1 case for one person for amputation during martial law, simulation or termination of military service or certain duties;
• 1 case for one person for abuse of authority, for inaction during martial law,

Regarding cases sent to the court conviction on 8 persons was made.

 

Preliminary investigation of most criminal cases is underway.