Armenian officers charged for negligence over "capture of soldiers"

A criminal case in connection with the capture of Armenian saboteurs in Karabakh has been submitted to the court.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia made the statement on June 12, Caliber.Az reports quoting Armenian media outlets.

According to the investigation, due to the negligence of the battalion chief of staff Major V.G., and commander, Lieutenant Colonel J.M., the Azerbaijani side gained access to the map of Armenian positions, which allowed them to surround the Armenian saboteurs.

"Late in the evening of December 11, 2020, Azerbaijani forces attacked one of the checkpoints. After a 40-minute battle, the personnel retreated on the orders of the Major, but the Major did not take proper measures to ensure that important documents did not end up in the hands of the enemy. Having seized maps and other combat documents, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces were able to encircle the remaining roadblocks.

As for the battalion commander, he sent an erroneous report to the command about the stabilization of the situation, while the enemy was accumulating additional forces in the area. The lieutenant colonel, knowing about the accumulation of the enemy forces, as well as about the possibility of one of the Armenian units moving away from the position without losses, ordered, without any reason, to stay in place and go to a circular defence, promising to come to the rescue. As a result, the unit suffered casualties, nine men were killed and two were taken prisoners.

On the basis of the evidence obtained, both officers were charged. The preliminary investigation has been completed and the case has been referred to the Syunik region's court of general jurisdiction," the statement said.