Armenian court issues first sentence in military fire that claimed 15 lives

Armenia has issued the first verdict in the high-profile case concerning a deadly fire at a military unit that claimed the lives of 15 servicemen.

According to Armenian media, cited by Caliber.Az, the court delivered its ruling on August 21, 2025, sentencing Junior Sergeant R.M. to three years in prison.

R.M., a conscript serving in the Armenian Armed Forces, had been on duty with his company between January 18 and 19, 2023. He was found guilty under Part 3 of Article 543 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, which covers violations of internal service regulations resulting in death through negligence.

The case stems from the fire that broke out on January 19, 2023, at approximately 01:30, in the premises of the engineering and sapper company of the N military unit of the Armenian Ministry of Defence, located in the village of Azat. The blaze killed 15 soldiers.

In the immediate aftermath, the commander of the Second Army Corps, along with seven servicemen, was dismissed from duty. Criminal proceedings were subsequently launched under Part 4 of Article 532 and Part 3 of Article 550 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

By Tamilla Hasanova