Jalal Harutyunyan found guilty in deaths of 20 soldiers, denies charges

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syunik Regional Court has found former Artsakh Defense Army Commander, Lieutenant General Jalal Harutyunyan, guilty under Article 550, Part 3 of the Criminal Code for negligence during martial law or wartime, resulting in severe consequences. The victims’ representative, Liparit Simonyan, confirmed the decision, as reported by RFE/RL.

Harutyunyan denies the charges.

According to Simonyan, the court established that Harutyunyan was responsible for the deaths of 20 soldiers on October 12, 2020, near Varanda (Fizuli), in the village of Jivarly, during the 44-day war. Lawyers claim that an erroneous command left the soldiers surrounded by Azerbaijani forces, leading to their deaths.

Simonyan added that the penalty has not yet been determined and will be discussed in a future hearing. He noted that such cases carry a potential sentence of 5–10 years in prison.

Harutyunyan’s attorney, Arsen Sardaryan, stated, “He does not accept the charges, and we will definitely appeal the court's decision.”

According to law enforcement, the erroneous command exposed the soldiers to enemy fire, resulting in 20 fatalities, 7 injuries, and the loss of the military base to Azerbaijani control.