Criminal Case of Terrorist Act by Azerbaijan Accepted by Artsakh Investigation Committee

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Artsakh has initiated a criminal case regarding a terrorist act committed by the armed forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan on March 5, 2023, around 10:00 AM.

According to the committee's Facebook page, the case involves the attack on a police vehicle of the Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs, specifically a 'UAZ' car, occurring in the area known as 'Ghaybalishen', on the left bank of the Armenavan River. The attack specifically targeted officers from the passport and visas department of the Artsakh police, resulting in the intentional killing of Lieutenant Colonel Armen Maiori Babayan, Major Davit Valeri Danielyan, and Lieutenant Ararat Telman Gasparyan. Furthermore, Lieutenant Davit Ashoti Hovsepyan sustained bodily harm as a result of the attack, which was aimed at destabilizing the internal situation of a foreign state through international terrorism, including acts intended to destroy or harm people, roads, means of communication, and property within that territory.

The pre-investigation actions have been tasked to an investigative team, and urgent investigative and procedural actions are being conducted to clarify all circumstances related to the incident.

It should be noted that this morning, at around 10:00 AM, the Azerbaijani special forces targeted and opened fire on the vehicle transporting personnel for the passport and visas department, resulting in the deaths of three police officers: Lieutenant Colonel Armen Maiori Babayan, Major Davit Valeri Danielyan, and Lieutenant Ararat Telman Gasparyan. Additionally, another officer, Lieutenant Davit Ashoti Hovsepyan, was injured by gunfire and is currently under medical supervision at a republican medical center.