Commander sentenced to 16 years for abandoning recruits

PanARMENIAN.Net - On October 10, Yerevan’s Court of General Jurisdiction, presided over by Judge John Hayrapetyan, sentenced Ishkhan Vahanyan, commander of the 5th battalion stationed in Jabrayil, to 16 years in prison.

Vahanyan was also stripped of his military rank of major as an additional penalty, according to Hetq.am .

The case stems from events on October 10, 2020, when Azerbaijani forces launched an attack on Khurhat Mountain, where the 5th battalion, mainly composed of new conscripts, was stationed. According to witness testimony, Vahanyan abandoned the position and left in a vehicle, taking communication equipment with him and claiming he was injured.

The court found him guilty under Article 546(1) of Armenia’s Criminal Code (abandoning the battlefield) and Article 549(3) (abuse of power with severe consequences), sentencing him to 16 years by partially combining penalties.

However, the court credited Vahanyan for time already served in pretrial detention—4 years, 1 month, and 26 days, which will be deducted from the total sentence. He now has 11 years, 10 months, and 4 days remaining to serve.