Significant Details on the Case of the 73 Soldiers Fallen in Hadrut: Names of the Accused Revealed

On September 10, parents of the soldiers who died in Hadrut met with the head of the Armenian Investigative Committee, Argishti Kyaramyan. Their sons were part of a notorious battalion that, under the orders of the former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, Jalal Harutyunyan, was sent from Martuni to Hadrut on October 11, 2020, which was already in enemy hands. None of the boys were saved, reports Forrights.

“The preliminary investigation on this case has been completed. Charges have been filed against two individuals who, according to investigators, showed negligence regarding their official duties. The Investigative Committee has not disclosed their names. According to our information, the accused include battalion commander Gor Ishkhanyan and the former head of the Artsakh Defense Army's operational staff, Nver Martirosyan. Jalal Harutyunyan is not among the accused, although the parents consider him the main culprit for their sons' deaths.

During the meeting, parents demanded that the head of the Investigative Committee, Argishti Kyaramyan, involve Jalal Harutyunyan as an accused, a demand that was also voiced during street protests. The conversation between Kyaramyan and the parents was heated. According to the parents present at the meeting, the head of the Investigative Committee stated that Jalal Harutyunyan is an accused, but in a completely different case. The Investigative Committee lacks grounds to involve him in the case concerning the soldiers who died in Hadrut.

The head of the Investigative Committee also reportedly told the parents that the head of the operational staff had submitted the documents to Jalal Harutyunyan, who signed them, likely without fully understanding what he was signing. Parents have been left questioning why and under whose orders the battalion stationed in Martuni was transferred to the Hadrut region, 50 kilometers away, when it was already known that Azerbaijani troops were in Hadrut. Each parent has conducted their own investigation prior to the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, made their own conclusions, and identified those they believe to be responsible.

Samuel Aramyan, father of 19-year-old Senior Sergeant Anania Aramyan, initially placed the blame on the commander of the Hadrut division, Karen Arustamyan. Battalion commander Gor Ishkhanyan informed Aramyan that the order to move the soldiers was given by Jalal Harutyunyan. He also stated, “Your children's blood is on Arustamyan Karen's shoulders; he was supposed to greet the boys 9 kilometers away from Martuni but did not, leading the boys to enter enemy-held territory.” However, Karen Arustamyan, who is considered an accused in a different case, stated during a meeting with the fallen soldiers' families with the participation of Artsakh President Araik Harutyunyan that he is not guilty in the case of the 73 and did not receive any order, written or verbal, to greet the soldiers. The Investigative Committee's preliminary investigation confirmed that the real culprit is battalion commander Gor Ishkhanyan. According to the Investigative Committee, he exhibited criminal negligence.

Details available in the original source.