Criminal Case Initiated Against Azerbaijan

Following the actions of Azerbaijan that violated the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, a criminal case has been initiated in the military prosecutor's office based on incidents motivated by national, racial, or religious hatred. The investigation committee of Armenia has accepted the case for proceedings.

According to a statement from the investigation committee, on July 28, 2021, between 03:30 and 03:50, a group of armed forces from the Republic of Azerbaijan, with the intent to violate the territorial integrity of Armenia, to separate and seize part of its territory, employed violence against the military personnel preserving security in the border areas of the Upper Shorja and Sotk residential areas of the Vardenis and Geghamasar administrative regions of the Gegharkunik province. With the intent of killing two or more persons, driven by motives of national, racial, or religious hatred, or religious fanaticism, they fired artillery and small arms towards the Armenian armed forces, seizing one of the protected positions. As a result of this incident, service member Senior Lieutenant Haik Hovhannisyan Gevorgyan, as well as conscripts Private Davit Garniki Kocharyan and Private Koryun Araik Harutyunyan sustained fatal gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Additionally, five conscripted soldiers suffered various degrees of gunshot and shrapnel injuries.

The criminal case under Article 300.2 and parts 1, 7, and 13 of Article 104 of the RA Criminal Code has been accepted for proceedings by the fifth garrison investigation department of the military investigative main directorate of the RA Investigation Committee, and an investigation is underway.