Firing at a Soldier and Creating an Amputation Deception: Details

The Military Investigative Main Department of the RA Investigative Committee has provided details regarding the incident involving the alleged amputation carried out by a conscript soldier from the RA Ministry of Defense N military unit, within the framework of a criminal investigation initiated for preliminary legal assessment. This was reported by the Investigative Committee.

On September 19, 2023, a report was received indicating that at approximately 11:10 AM, conscript soldier A. Gevorgyan from the RA Ministry of Defense N military unit had fired a shot from an "AKM" type assault rifle at another contracted soldier attached to the same post, causing an amputation to the right leg and temporarily suspending his military service obligations.

Based on comprehensive investigations conducted within the framework of a criminal case initiated under the first part of Article 528 of the RA Criminal Code, it has been established through factual data obtained that junior sergeant V. M., who has been serving as an observer in the combat position of the same military unit since August 31, 2023, had an argument with junior sergeant A. G., an assistant to the senior sergeant, regarding the accidental trampling of the foot on September 19 at around 11:00 AM.

During the confrontation and instead of fulfilling his duties, V. M. displayed behavior incompatible with military honor and the dignity of servicemen, taking an "AKM" assault rifle attached to the senior officer from the military position's armory, disengaging the safety, loading it, and firing a single shot into the air. He then fired another shot directly at A. G., causing severe injury to him.

Immediately after the incident, V. M. unloaded the mentioned firearm, replaced the discharged cartridge back into the magazine, secured the magazine to the rifle, and handed it to A. G. to ensure that his fingerprints would remain on the weapon. Subsequently, V. M. discarded the fired bullet found on the ground and urged the personnel at the position to present the incident in such a manner that A. G. had accidentally shot himself in the leg.

Additionally, junior sergeant V. M. instructed two soldiers from the position's personnel to clean the blood spilled from A. G.'s leg, attempting to conceal the real circumstances of the incident.

Based on sufficient evidence collected, junior sergeant V. M. has been charged under the first part of Article 519 and the second part, point 6 of Article 166 of the RA Criminal Code. He has been detained.

The preliminary investigation has concluded, and the materials of the criminal case have been sent to the prosecutor for approval and submission to the court.

Note: A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a legally enforceable court judgment in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the RA.