Armenian general charged with death, disappearance of dozens of soldiers

Armenia’s Investigative Committee has completed a preliminary investigation into the case in which the former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Andranik Makaryan, and a number of other military personnel appear as defendants.

It is noted that back in April 2021, the general was charged under Part 3 of Criminal Code Article 376 – the negligent attitude of the chief or official to the service, causing significant harm, committed during martial law, war or in a combat situation, Caliber.Az reports citing the Armenian media.

However, the details of the crime that incriminated him and his subordinates were not disclosed at that time.

The media reported that Makaryan was involved in the disappearance of dozens of servicemen during the 44-day war in Karabakh.

According to investigators, the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces was responsible for organizing the fighting in the area of Zangilan which was conducted in October 2020.

On October 21, his 62-man unit was surrounded and engaged in combat with Azerbaijani Armed Forces units.

Instead of transferring additional forces to help the unit, Makaryan gave the order to retreat.

Left without reinforcements, the encircled Armenian group was almost destroyed. Five servicemen were captured, 12 were killed, and the plight of another 24 soldiers is still unknown.

Currently, the criminal case with the indictment has been transferred to the prosecutor's office for its approval.

Makaryan himself was dismissed from his post in February 2022. Back in April last year, a subscription not to leave was chosen as a preventive measure against him.