Criminal Case Initiated Over Azerbaijani Incursion into Armenian Territory and Soldier's Death

A criminal case has been initiated concerning the illegal crossing of the state border of Armenia by Azerbaijani Armed Forces personnel, the violation of Armenia's territorial integrity, and the murder of an Armenian soldier, as reported by the advisor to the Armenian Prosecutor General, Gor Abrahamyan.

“On May 25, 2021, at approximately 14:20, a group of armed servicemen from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, organized by their commanders, illegally crossed the state border of Armenia in the border area of the community of Vardenis in Gegharkunik Province. With the intention of violating Armenia’s territorial integrity, they made calls to violence against the Armenian soldiers stationed in the area, demanding that they resist and vacate the territory,” he stated.

“During the ensuing altercation, they intentionally fired gunshots towards the Armenian soldiers, as a result of which a contract serviceman of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Junior Sergeant G. Khurshudyan, born in 1989, sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The soldier was transferred to the military hospital in Gegharkunik, where his biological death was recorded.”

A criminal case has been initiated at the military prosecutor's office of the Sevan garrison on the illegal crossing of the state border by personnel of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and the commission of acts aimed at transferring part of Armenia's territory to another state through violence, as well as the deliberate murder of an Armenian soldier, under Articles 329 (2), 300.2, and 104 (2) (1, 6, and 13) of the Armenian Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation has been assigned to the fifth investigative division of the Military Investigative Main Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

Also, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia announced today, May 25, around 13:00, regarding the discovery of conscript M. Hovhannisyan in the northeastern area of Armenia, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. In connection with this tragic incident, I find it necessary to inform that at this stage, materials are being prepared, and all urgent necessary actions are being taken. The incident did not occur in Gegharkunik Province, as is reported by some media outlets. I urge against the dissemination of misinformation,” he wrote on his Facebook page.