Armenian Prosecutor's Office on Murder of Martakert Resident by Azerbaijani Armed Forces

On October 9, 2021, at around 13:20, a resident of Martakert city, Aram Alexeyi Teptnants, born in 1966, was shot in the chest and died on the spot due to gunfire from an Azerbaijani position located approximately one kilometer away while performing agricultural work in the administrative territory of the Martakert community.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia reports that before starting the agricultural work, Russian peacekeepers had arrived in the area through the mediation of representatives from the Martakert municipality and the Artsakh Defense Army to ensure the safety of the work, given the proximity to the border. According to initial information, the driver initially avoided operating the agricultural machinery, but one of the peacekeepers suggested sitting with him in the cabin as an additional security measure. Eyewitnesses claim that in this manner, they made several rounds.

A criminal case has been initiated on the same day under the second part of Article 103, point 14 of the Criminal Code of Artsakh, which pertains to murder committed out of national, racial, or religious hatred or fanaticism. An investigation is underway.

Following the incident, agricultural work has been halted not only in that area but also in other border areas. Taking into account the agreement between the Prosecutors General of the Republic of Armenia, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Azerbaijan on operational exchange of information regarding criminal incidents recorded in the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact zone, data regarding the murder of a civilian by Azerbaijani armed forces, which constitutes a gross violation of the ceasefire, has been transferred to the representatives of the Russian Prosecutor's Office stationed in Artsakh, ensuring operational and effective cooperation with them.

The Armenian Prosecutor General has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of readiness to engage in the investigation of the incident in all possible formats. This case is a stark violation of the provisions of the trilateral ceasefire declaration signed on November 10, 2020, by the leaders of Armenia, Russia, and Artsakh.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia will remain committed to the implementation of the agreements reached, maintaining a clear position that an objective and effective investigation of this and similar cases, ensuring just criminal accountability for those responsible, is essential for creating stable guarantees to exclude such tragic incidents and for clearly establishing accountability for violations of the ceasefire and any criminal act, along with the resulting legal consequences.