Armenian officer sentenced to 16 years for desertion

An Armenian court has sentenced Major Ishkhan Vahanyan, who commanded a training battalion of the Armenian army during the 44-day war, to 16 years in prison for deserting the battlefield and causing death by negligence.

Vahanyan was also stripped of his military rank, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

According to the case file, during the 44-day war, Vahanyan’s battalion was stationed in the area of the village of Hadrut. The major stated that he was wounded, after which he left his position and took communications equipment with him. 

Prosecutors argued that his actions severely compromised the battalion’s operational capacity, directly contributing to the deaths of at least 16 Armenian servicemen and the capture of seven others.

He has already spent approximately four years in pre-trial detention and will serve an additional 11 years and 10 months behind bars.