Commander of the 5th Battalion of Jrakan Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison

The commander of the 5th Battalion of Jrakan, Ishkhan Vahanyan, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. The verdict was announced today, on October 10, by Judge John Hayrapetyan of the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Criminal Court. This was reported by HETQ.

Additionally, according to the court's decision, an additional penalty was imposed, and Vahanyan was stripped of his military rank of Major in the Armed Forces of Armenia.

Exactly five years ago, on this same day, October 10, 2020, the adversary attacked Mount Khurhat, where the 5th Battalion of Jrakan, consisting mostly of recruits, was stationed. Witnesses stated that Ishkhan Vahanyan descended from the mountain, claiming to be injured, sat in a vehicle, and left, taking along a means of communication as well.

Five years later, the commander, accused of abandoning the recruits and fleeing the battlefield, has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Vahanyan was found guilty under Article 546, Part 1, and Article 549, Part 3 of the current Criminal Code of Armenia, and the sentences were partially summed up, resulting in a final sentence of 16 years of imprisonment. The time spent in custody, which amounts to 4 years, 1 month, and 26 days, will be deducted from Vahanyan's sentence, leaving him to serve 11 years, 10 months, and 4 days in prison.