Identity of Azerbaijani Perpetrator in Murder of CharTar Resident Revealed

On December 3, 2021, around 1:00 PM, a group of armed Azerbaijani soldiers committed acts of violence threatening the life and health of the local population in the Ghurusuu area, part of the Martuni region administrative territory in Artsakh. They openly abducted Seyran Smbati Sargsyan, a resident of this community engaged in livestock farming, and transported him to a combat position located on a height known as Kohak, where they intentionally fired upon him out of national hatred, unlawfully taking his life.

A criminal case has been initiated by the Artsakh Police concerning this incident, in accordance with Articles 103, Part 2, Points 3, 7, and 14 (murder) and Article 129, Part 2, Points 1, 2, and 3 (abduction) of the Artsakh Criminal Code. The criminal case has been referred to the Artsakh Investigative Committee for further investigation.

In cooperation with prosecutors from the Republic of Artsakh and those included in the composition of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Artsakh, it has been established that the murder was committed by an Azerbaijani citizen, Private Rahimzade David Gabil oglu. In accordance with agreements reached between the Attorney Generals of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, the prosecutor from the Russian peacekeeping forces visited the crime scene, heard witnesses from the Azerbaijani side, and examined the alleged location of the incident as cited by the Azerbaijanis.

Currently, peacekeepers are negotiating the handover of Seyran Sargsyan's body to the Artsakh side.

The Azerbaijani side has once again distorted the circumstances of the criminal incident, portraying the deliberate murder as a response to an alleged attack from an Artsakh citizen toward their combat position. The Artsakh side has compelling and irrefutable evidence, including complete video footage, demonstrating the actions of Azerbaijani soldiers in forcibly abducting an Artsakh citizen from the Ghurusuu area, viewed at that time as a buffer zone, employing violence while dragging him by his feet and hands to the Azerbaijani outpost. This video and other evidence will soon be provided to the Russian side to form an accurate and complete understanding of the real circumstances of the incident.

No official information has yet been published by the Azerbaijani side regarding the initiation of a criminal case.