Commander Refuses to Go to Frontline During War and Lead 860 Personnel

During the 44-day war, the commander of a military unit refused to go to the front line and lead an 860-member personnel. The company commander of the same unit also declined to go to the frontline. The preliminary investigation has been completed in both cases, writes News.

According to Rafael Vardanyan, head of the investigation department of the Military Investigative Main Directorate, "The personnel of the military unit received an order on October 7 and 8 to proceed to the combat zone and carry out a mission as part of two companies. The location of the mission was approximately 5 kilometers in the direction of the village of Mekhakavan in Artsakh, near Mount Tuluqzdak."

A few days later, on October 15, the unit commander, a colonel, also received an order from the higher command to go to the field, but he refused to comply. “He justified his refusal by stating that he was in a depressed moral and psychological state,” Vardanyan noted. He pointed out that the colonel not only refused to go to the front line but also to lead the personnel.

“It is even more important that the unit commander, who should essentially demonstrate commitment by example and inspire his personnel, refuses to fulfill the mission,” Vardanyan added.

The other criminal case relates to the commander of the first rifle company of the same unit, who had been leading a subdivision carrying out combat tasks in the area adjacent to Mekhakavan since October 7. “On October 14, the company commander, a lieutenant colonel, returned to the command post in the village of Aygehovit for rest and food. The next day, around 15:30, the company commander received an order from his superior to go to the front line and continue fulfilling his assigned task, forming groups of military personnel to carry out the mission assigned to the company in the line of defense.” This officer also allegedly refused to return to the front line, according to the charges.

Vardanyan stated that large-scale investigative and procedural actions have been conducted, including confrontational interrogations. Consequently, both high-ranking officers are charged with refusing to fulfill military service obligations. According to Vardanyan, only the company commander has accepted the charges.

News attempted to obtain comments from the defense attorney of the unit commander. Arsen Sardarayn stated that he refrains from making a statement at this stage. The other accused currently does not have a defense attorney.

Preventive measure of prohibition from leaving has been selected for both officers. The case has been sent to the court of general jurisdiction of the Syunik region.