Families of Fallen Soldiers Report 5 Crimes Related to 44-Day War

The Prosecutor General’s Office has summarized the results of applications and complaints addressed to the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office during 2020, as well as the proceedings initiated and the organized reception of citizens according to established procedures. In 2020, the Prosecutor's Office received 10,435 applications and complaints, which is 1,427 less than in 2019. A total of 1,011 applications were processed, resulting in 159 criminal cases being initiated. The Prosecutor’s Office provided 2,862 necessary legal clarifications regarding the submitted applications and complaints.

Families of fallen soldiers have submitted 5 reports regarding crimes related to the 44-day war that began on September 27, 2020, out of which 3 have led to the initiation of criminal cases, while 2 are still being prepared for review. Additionally, there have been 17 applications from relatives of soldiers who were killed, missing, or captured during the war. These applications have been forwarded to the investigative bodies conducting proceedings on war-related criminal cases for verification and examination.

The majority of applications and complaints received in 2020—3,045—pertained to crimes against property and economic activities. There are over 1,500 applications regarding crimes of a corrupt nature and crimes against individuals. Besides applications and complaints, citizens also report their pressing issues and inquiries directly by visiting the Prosecutor's Office. In 2020, a total of 1,375 receptions were organized at the Prosecutor's Office.

28 receptions were held under Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan, 10 under Deputy Prosecutors General and senior prosecutors, 155 in departmental prosecutor's offices, 264 in Yerevan and administrative district prosecutor's offices, and 692 in regional prosecutor's offices. The Military Prosecutor’s Office conducted 196 visits, while the department for citizen receptions and application discussions within the Prosecutor General’s Office held 33 receptions. Arthur Baghdasaryan, advisor to the Prosecutor General for coordinating citizen receptions and handling applications and complaints, noted that as a result of the receptions organized at the Prosecutor's Office, in certain cases, new circumstances have led to the initiation of proceedings.

In particular, based on a report submitted by a citizen, the Armenian Police prepared materials in accordance with criminal procedural rules, but the body conducting the proceedings made a decision to refuse to initiate a criminal case. Following this, a complaint was submitted by the citizen, and their reception was organized with advisor Arthur Baghdasaryan. After examining the legality of this decision and reviewing the case materials, taking into account the results of the reception, a new circumstance resulted in the initiation of proceedings, and the case was forwarded to the Investigative Committee of Armenia for further investigation.