Criminal Cases Initiated Regarding Crimes Committed by Azerbaijan at the Armenia Border

Under the instruction of the military prosecutor's office of the Sevan garrison, factual data has been obtained in the Vardenis military police department regarding the illegal crossing of the Armenian state border by a group of armed Azerbaijani servicemen, organized by commanders of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 12, in the boundary areas of the Upper Shorja community of Gegharkunik province and the Norabak community.

The public relations department of the Prosecutor's Office informs that Azerbaijani servicemen crossed into the territory of the Republic of Armenia by 2 to 3 kilometers and positioned themselves, threatening Armenian servicemen approaching them that they would open fire if they advanced further, claiming that the area belonged to Azerbaijan. Following the preparation of materials, a criminal case was initiated on May 18 at the military prosecutor's office of the Sevan garrison under Articles 300.2 and 329, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, the investigation of which has been entrusted to the 5th garrison investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee.

According to the source, in addition to this, the military prosecutor's office has instructed the Vardenis department of the RA Ministry of Defense to investigate the circumstances mentioned in media publications regarding the altercation between Azerbaijani servicemen unlawfully entering the territory of Armenia and Armenian servicemen, to which a video that circulated on social media on May 19 has also been linked.

The investigative materials revealed that due to the service violations of several servicemen and officials of the RA Ministry of Defense's N army corps and subordinate units, on May 17, a large number of units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan penetrated the territory under the protection of the RA Armed Forces in the administrative area of the village of Kut in Gegharkunik province, exerting violence against Armenian servicemen and forcing them to leave their combat positions. The actions taken by the Armenian servicemen led to the Azerbaijani servicemen being pushed back to their starting positions.

Regarding these incidents, criminal cases have been initiated under Article 365, part 3 and Article 376, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia for violations of combat service regulations and negligence towards service, the preliminary investigation of which has also been entrusted to the 5th garrison investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee.