Jalal Harutyunyan’s defense seeks acquittal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Both the defense team of former Artsakh Defense Army commander Jalal Harutyunyan and the representatives of the victims have appealed the verdict issued by Judge Garik Abelyan at the Goris seat of Armenia’s general jurisdiction court, reports Panorama.am .

The victims’ side has requested that the Appeals Court impose the maximum sentence—eight years in prison. One of Harutyunyan’s defense lawyers noted that their appeal calls for his full acquittal.

The case has been assigned to Judge Mkhitar Papoyan. The first hearing is scheduled for April 23 at 12:30 p.m.

The defense argues that the trial judge committed numerous procedural violations and acted with bias. They also cite Harutyunyan’s health condition, claiming it is incompatible with imprisonment.

“The trial was conducted calmly and objectively, and the defense made no complaints until the guilty verdict. Only after the verdict did they attempt to disrupt proceedings with artificial delays, which failed,” said Liparit Simonyan, a lawyer representing the victims’ interests.

Lieutenant General Harutyunyan was found guilty of negligence in military service during wartime and sentenced to five years and six months in prison. Law enforcement authorities claim he misidentified approaching enemy forces as “our own,” preventing the unit from defending itself. Harutyunyan denies all charges.

The artillery unit from the Tsor base had been listed as missing for over a year. On November 2, 2021, the remains of 11 soldiers were returned to the Armenian side at the Karmir Shuka intersection in Martuni, Artsakh, with the mediation of Russian peacekeepers.