On the 25th of January, 2023, the prosecutor, supervising over the legality of pre-trial proceedings made a decision on initiating a public criminal prosecution against G.A., the Head of Rear– Deputy of Commander’s Rear and Utility Operation Service of the Ministry of Defense of the N Military Unit of the Ministry of Defense of the RA under the article 550, part 3 of the Criminal Code of the RA (military official negligence which caused human death by carelessness).

In the result of investigative and other procedural actions taken during the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings under the Fifth Garrison Investigative Unit of General Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the RA, sufficient facts were obtained that G.A., the Head of Rear– Deputy of Commander’s Rear and Utility Operation Service of the Ministry of Defense of the N Military Unit of the Ministry of Defense of the RA, being a commander and an official, being responsible for the organization of safety in case of fire in the military unit, being obliged to organize the anti-fire protection of rear facilities;

Organize trainings for the personnel regarding safety requirements in case of fire and necessary actions for firefighting;

Ensure the availability of fire extinguishers in all facilities, timely fulfillment of safety requirements in case of fire;

at least once every 3 months to check the organization of the fire protection of the regiment;

Ensure timely implementation of safety requirements in case of fire;

failed to perform the mentioned duties as a result of negligent attitude towards the performance of his official duties and carelessly caused death of people.

During the preliminary investigation, it was found that on the 19th of January, 2023, after midnight, an officer of the engineering service of the N military unit of the Ministry of Defense of the RA, in violation of the established order, lit the wood-stove with gasoline, as a result of which a fire broke out in the shelter, located at house 20 of the 1st street of Azat village, Gegharkunik region, a shelter intended for the personnel of the above-mentioned unit. Due to the absence of relevant fire protection means and reserve exit, the soldiers not only failed to put the fire out, but also to break the iron bars of the shelter’s windows and get out. As a result, 15 compulsory military servants of the same troop, resting in the shelter, died, the officer and 4  compulsory military servants got bodily injuries of various degree.

The Preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Notice:  A person charged with any crime shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code—by the judgment came into legal force.