Criminal Case Launched Over Destruction of Mi-24 Helicopter in Armenia

Russian military investigators have initiated a criminal case concerning the destruction of a military Mi-24 helicopter at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. This has been reported by the Interfax news agency, citing its sources.

“A criminal case has been initiated under Article 351 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of flight or flight preparation rules),” said a source from the agency.

It was specified that Russian military investigators are currently conducting preliminary investigative actions together with their colleagues from Armenia and Azerbaijan. They have inspected the site of the incident and appointed several examinations, including flight-technical evaluations.

The source clarified that “during the investigation, it will likely be requalified to a more serious case.” Article 351 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation prescribes a penalty of up to seven years of imprisonment.

The investigation is being led by military investigators from the Russian base in Gyumri.

It should be noted that the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian Mi-24 helicopter, which crashed near the residential area of Yeraskh in Armenia, was shot down.