Armenia sentences ex-commander of Karabakh occupation forces to 5.5 years

Former commander of the Karabakh occupation forces, Gen. Jalal Harutyunyan has been sentenced to 5.5 years in prison in Armenia. 

The ruling was issued by the Court of General Jurisdiction of the Syunik (Zangezur) region of Armenia on February 7, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Earlier, prosecutors had requested a 6-year prison sentence for the general, while the parents of soldiers who died in the 44-day war, recognized as victims, demanded 8 years of imprisonment.

A case had previously been opened against Arutyunyan regarding two incidents related to the 2020 war. Harutyunyan commanded the occupation army during the main phase of the 44-day second Karabakh war, up until October 27, 2020. After he sustained serious injuries, he was replaced by Mikael Arzumanyan.

By Naila Huseynova