Investigative Committee Reports on Casualties from Azerbaijani Armed Forces Fire in Nerkhin Hand

On February 13, 2024, servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire towards the combat positions in the southeastern section of the contact line, which is under the protection of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, motivated by hatred, intolerance, or enmity based on racial, national, or ethnic origins, with the intent to unlawfully take lives.

As a result, four individuals—Eduard Harutyunyan, Gagik Manukyan, Arsen Hambardzumyan, and Hrach Hovhannisyan—sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds. One person, Rustam Vardanyan, sustained a gunshot wound to the forearm of his right hand, with his condition assessed as moderate severity.

Considering that there is grounds and reason to initiate a criminal proceeding, the Ninth Garrison Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has initiated a criminal case under Article 155, Part 2, Points 1, 8, and 15 (four episodes) and Article 44-155, Part 2, Points 1, 8, and 15 of the RA Criminal Code. An investigation is underway. Necessary and urgent investigative and procedural actions are being taken.