17 Soldiers Killed, Indictment States 'Severe Material Consequences': Voskanyan Sargsyan

17 soldiers have been killed, including 2 officers, with the indictment stating that it has caused 'severe material consequences'. This was reported by journalist Voskanyan Sargsyan on his Facebook page, addressing the case of Andranik Veranyan, the deputy commander for combat readiness of unit N.

According to the relatives of the fallen soldiers, their request for the trial to be held in Yerevan has not been considered. On September 7, the first hearing for Andranik Veranyan's trial was scheduled at the Goris Court of General Jurisdiction in Syunik Province. According to the charges filed by the Goris military prosecutor’s office, Andranik Veranyan has been accused of abusing his official position due to personal interests, which has recklessly led to severe material consequences during the state of emergency declared in Armenia. He has been charged under part 4 of Article 375 of the Armenian Criminal Code, which prescribes a punishment of 7 to 13 years of imprisonment. The preventative measure selected for him is a signature not to leave the place.

On October 9, 2020, an order was received from the higher command to move the entire unit, including the engineering platoon personnel, from the Horadiz region of the Republic of Artsakh to the village of Tili. The parents of the fallen soldiers report that their sons served in one of the military units in Meghri. During the war, they were transferred to Artsakh, and until October 9, they fought. They then received an order to move from the Jabrail section of Artsakh to the village of Tili.

On the way, they noticed UAVs in the sky, and the platoon commander Taron Nikoghosyan ordered everyone to get down and lie on the ground. At that moment, Lieutenant Colonel Andranik Veranyan, the deputy commander of the unit, arrived and argued with Nikoghosyan about why they had stopped. They pointed out that there were UAVs above, they could hear the sounds, and their lives were in danger. Veranyan reportedly said, 'That’s not your business; that’s the job of the Air Defense'. When they suggested to wait for a moment to escape the UAV, Veranyan insisted that they board the vehicles and move, saying it was an order and they had to comply.

16 soldiers and 2 officers boarded a Ural vehicle and moved, but a few minutes later, the UAV struck, resulting in the deaths of 17 soldiers, with only one surviving. Knowing that they were in their final moments, the soldiers began to sing, 'You are going to war, go in peace'. This video was captured by the only survivor, Armen Hakobyan, whose twin brother died at that time. The relatives of the fallen soldiers have written requests for the trial to be held in Yerevan or closer to the residential area of most victims, but this request has not been taken into account. Among the 17 fallen is the only son of my brother-in-law, Gevorg Ghuzyan, a resident of the border village of Baghanis in Tavush Province, who was only 19 years old,” he wrote.