Jalal Harutyunyan's lawyers file extensive appeal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Lawyers representing Jalal Harutyunyan, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, have submitted a comprehensive appeal challenging the court’s verdict. Defense attorney Arsen Sardaryan stated during a press conference that the judge displayed bias and failed to adequately consider crucial elements before delivering the guilty verdict.

Sardaryan explained that during the 44-day war, the command of the D-20 division from the Tsor military unit made critical errors in organizing defenses, including unauthorized retreats. This was reported by Genadi Baghdasaryan, then head of artillery for the Artsakh Defense Army, who repeatedly ordered the unit to hold its positions, emphasizing that abandoning them would compromise artillery support for other units.

Harutyunyan’s now-infamous order on October 12, 2020—“Let it go, they’re ours”—proved disastrous for the division, positioned near the Juvarlu area of the Varanda (Fizuli) district. An Azerbaijani attack resulted in the deaths of 20 servicemen, injuries to 7 others, and the disappearance of Lt. Col. Norayr Hayrapetyan, the unit’s artillery chief. Eight D-20 howitzers, four Ural vehicles, large quantities of weaponry and ammunition, classified documents, and command posts were abandoned.

Sardaryan noted that over the course of the year-long trial, the defense team thoroughly reviewed all evidence, which required substantial time and effort. Each of the three defense attorneys submitted separate complaints averaging more than 30 pages, each addressing specific issues.

He further argued that the Tsor unit’s command initially displayed signs of panic and retreat, which Baghdasaryan managed to curb with difficulty. “It is likely that Baghdasaryan was told by others, including Harutyunyan, that ‘they could be ours’—which he then used to prevent the unit from fleeing,” Sardaryan claimed.

Another lawyer, Andranik Mnatsakanyan, stated that procedural violations during the trial could be pivotal in the appeal. He said the court dismissed expert military evaluations, which indicated that proper and timely action by the unit could have revealed the enemy group earlier, potentially preventing the loss of lives and equipment.

“The court downplayed the value of military expertise by claiming that trench digging, observation posts, and other defense measures were impossible due to the troops’ fatigue and lack of technical capacity. Yet the case facts tell a different story,” Mnatsakanyan argued.

On January 15, 2025, the General Jurisdiction Court of Syunik sentenced Jalal Harutyunyan to 5.5 years in prison. During the February 6 hearing, the public prosecutor had requested a 6-year sentence, while the victims sought 8 years. Harutyunyan was convicted under Article 550, Part 3 of Armenia’s Criminal Code for military negligence during wartime, which led to the death of personnel.