On January 15, 2025, the General Jurisdiction Court of Syunik Province, presided over by Judge Garik Abelian, found former Artsakh Defense Army Commander Jalal Harutyunyan guilty under Article 550, Part 3 of the Armenian Criminal Code. Harutyunyan was accused of gross negligence in performing his official duties during the 44-day war, which led to severe consequences.
Additional court hearings are scheduled for January 23 to discuss sentencing, with the final decision potentially being announced on the same day. Based on the Criminal Code provisions in effect at the time of the incident, Harutyunyan faces a sentence of 4 to 8 years in prison. This timeframe reflects the laws applicable during the 2020 war rather than the updated code, which mandates harsher penalties.
According to Harutyunyan’s lawyer, Liparit Simonyan, the court delivered an objective and fair ruling. He expressed hope that the same level of fairness would be applied during the sentencing phase.
The indictment alleges that on October 12, 2020, Harutyunyan, then serving as the Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, displayed negligence toward his duties. This negligence resulted in operational failures and severe consequences, particularly during an incident involving the artillery units in the Tsor region. During this episode, artillery forces came under fire and were encircled, resulting in 20 casualties, including deaths and injuries.
This case sheds light on wartime leadership errors and their profound impact on both military outcomes and accountability. The trial raises questions about whether holding military leaders accountable for such failures helps improve command structures or undermines public trust in the armed forces. Finding a balance between transparency, justice, and operational readiness is crucial for the future of military leadership and governance.