Number of Individuals Arrested for Illegally Transporting and Circulating Weapons and Ammunition from Artsakh to Armenia

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia has summarized the investigation progress regarding the illegal acquisition, theft, transportation, storage, and circulation of weapons and ammunition during and after the aggressive war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia on September 27, 2020, until November 9, 2020. As of April 1, 2022, during the period from September 27, 2020, to April 1, 2022, in connection with the war, 756 materials were prepared concerning the illegal acquisition, theft, or transportation of weapons, ammunition, explosive materials, or devices.

Criminal cases have been initiated based on 219 of these materials according to various parts of Article 235 and also Article 238 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Out of the indicated criminal cases, 16 have been merged with other cases, and decisions to suspend the proceedings have been made for 38 cases mainly due to the fact that the identities of the individuals who allegedly committed the crimes are unknown, in some instances because the defendants were evading the investigation or their whereabouts were unknown. Furthermore, the proceedings had been terminated for 63 criminal cases, including 38 with justifiable grounds and 25 with non-justifiable grounds. The preliminary investigation is still ongoing for 60 criminal cases.

The study of the materials from the investigated and ongoing criminal cases demonstrates that the weapons and munitions were acquired from various defensive regions of the Republic of Artsakh and were used or intended to be used against the enemy during the war. Various types of firearms, including rifles, pistols, knives, optical weapon systems, anti-tank grenade launchers, rounds of different calibers, detonators, different types of grenades, TNT blocks, and various other prohibited items have been discovered and seized.

Part of the illegally acquired and transported weapons and ammunition was found at checkpoints along the Artsakh-Armenia highway, while a significant amount was discovered later through operational and investigative measures. Some were revealed as a result of citizens voluntarily presenting themselves to the police following explanatory work conducted with the public.

As of April 1, 2022, a total of 93 individuals have been implicated as defendants in connection with crimes stipulated in various parts of Article 235 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, with some being subjected to detention as a measure of restraint. During this period, 42 criminal cases against 54 individuals with an accusatory conclusion have been sent to court. A verdict of guilty has been rendered for 32 individuals in 29 cases sent to court. The trial continues for 20 individuals in 13 cases.