On September 27, 2020, during the martial law declared by the Government, instead of suspending the enemy’s offensive, M.P., the Deputy Commander of the Infantry Battalion, sowed panic among the personnel of the military positions and ordered a retreat.

In particular, the Deputy Commander of the battalion, on September 26, 2020, being assigned as the person in charge of the military position of the guarded territory of the N military unit, on September 28 was given the task to implement the protection of the contact line and airspace of the Republic of Artsakh, to prevent border infringements.

On the same day, about 14:00 pm, having learned that the Azerbaijani armed forces broke through the defensive line of the military unit N of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Artsakh from the direction of the Talish settlement, Martakert region of the Republic of Artsakh, being obliged to stop the enemy's offensive, organize the Unit’s retreat in a covert manner, ignoring the fact of leaving the military positions and defensive line unprotected, showed inaction and abused his powers. In particular, not having the command of the battalion commander to retreat from the occupied military position N, sowed panic among the personnel thereof, reporting that enemy tanks had been observed, which would reach and destroy them. Then, he ordered to immediately retreat and, left the military position with personnel without fighting.

As a result the enemy freely moved forward and occupied the military positions.

On June 2, 2023, the supervising prosecutor initiated public criminal prosecution against M.P. under Article 375(4) of the RA Criminal Code (abuse of powers).

On July 7, 2023, the prosecutor submitted the files of the criminal proceedings with an indictment to the Criminal Court of First Instance of Syunik Region.

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.