Due to Commander's Inaction, Entire Unit Forced to Retreat: Details

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has revealed significant details regarding a criminal case within the Military Investigative Main Department, undertaken in the context of the investigation into a high-profile case. The investigation has determined that from November 2019 until October 4, 2020, Colonel S.A., who held the position of commander of a defensive sector in the Artsakh Republic's Defense Army, violated combat duty regulations established by numerous normative legal acts while under reinforced combat duty conditions.

In particular, S.A. organized and conducted a festive event to commemorate the unit's formation day on September 26, 2020, attended by the majority of the officer corps and other guests, including around 100 army officers. During the celebration, reports regarding the movement and concentration of forces and means on the front lines and in the enemy’s rear, as well as the sharp increase in the risk of combat operations, were presented by the commanders of subordinate units engaged in combat duty.

In this context, S.A. was officially obliged to take action to elevate the entire personnel and resources of the unit to full combat readiness, as well as to reinforce the combat positions to uncover, prevent, and confront the enemy's unexpected attack, and to report to his direct superior at the earliest opportunity. However, no measures were taken in this regard.

Moreover, on September 27, 2020, at 06:10, amid the advance of enemy tanks, armored vehicles, and personnel toward the front line, S.A. continued to manifest inaction, failing to execute the powers and obligations assigned to him by law to elevate the entire personnel and resources of the unit to full combat readiness and to report any developments to his superiors. Consequently, at around 07:10 on September 27, 2020, the armed forces of Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack along the defensive lines, causing significant losses to the unit and breaching the defenses of several combat positions and command observation posts within hours, penetrating rear areas.

Due to these circumstances, the unit failed to reorganize effectively, fully transition to defense, and resist the enemy's attack, allowing the adversary to capitalize on their success by capturing strategic heights and command observation posts, while simultaneously carrying out assaults from the rear and penetrating deep into the defense, risking encirclement of parts of the personnel of the defensive sector. As a result, the entire unit was forced to retreat, and the villages of Talish and Mataghis in the Martakert region of Artsakh came under the control of the enemy.

S.A. has been charged under Article 365, Part 3 of the Republic of Armenia's Criminal Code, adopted on April 18, 2003 (corresponding to Article 540, Part 5 of the current Criminal Code—violating combat duty regulations when it leads to failing to timely detect or respond to an attack against the state). On the same day, a decision was made to arrest S.A., and a motion was submitted to the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan to apply detention as a measure of restraint against him. On July 29, 2022, detention was enforced as a measure against S.A. The preliminary investigation is ongoing.