The cassation appeal submitted by former Artsakh Defense Army commander Jalal Harutyunyan was returned by the Supreme Court due to deficiencies, with 10 days granted to resubmit a corrected version. Judge Serzhik Avetisyan was assigned to the case. The decision to return the appeal was made on September 2, reports Pastinfo.
Harutyunyan reportedly delayed receiving the Court of Appeal’s ruling for months and only obtained it “forcibly” in August, after which deadlines for appeal began to apply. The victims’ side has expressed concern that Harutyunyan is deliberately prolonging proceedings in order to gain time until the statute of limitations expires.
Eight months after the appellate ruling, the decision still has not taken legal effect. Following the return of the appeal, Harutyunyan’s lawyer has not yet filed a new one. His defense attorney, Ashot Apresyan, stated he has not received the Supreme Court’s decision but will file a revised appeal within the 10-day deadline once it is delivered. He emphasized that the appeal challenges jurisdiction, arguing that the case should have been tried in Yerevan’s general jurisdiction court rather than in Syunik.
One episode in the case, concerning the October 7, 2020 counterattack, was dropped during pretrial investigation. Another episode, related to the October 12 attack on the Tsor military unit’s D-20 division, proceeded to trial.
According to the indictment, Harutyunyan, as the Defense Army commander and lieutenant general, showed negligence during martial law. His careless approach to duty allegedly resulted in grave consequences. It is claimed that during the October 12 attack, when division commanders contacted his deputy in charge of artillery, Genadi Baghdasaryan, to report the enemy assault, Harutyunyan insisted the approaching forces were friendly.
He has been barred from leaving Armenia as a preventive measure.
On January 15, 2025, the Syunik General Jurisdiction Court, presided over by Judge Garik Abelyan, found Jalal Harutyunyan guilty under Article 550, Part 3 of Armenia’s Criminal Code and sentenced him to 5.5 years in prison. The Court of Appeal, led by Mkhitar Papoyan with judges Robert Papoyan and Lusine Abgaryan, upheld the ruling in full.
