Court approves arrest of former Artsakh army commander

Panorama
Armenia – Sept 1 2022

A court in Yerevan has granted a motion filed by the Investigative Committee to remand former Artsakh army commander Mikayel Arzumanyan in pre-trial custody, his lawyer Yerem Sargsyan said on Thursday.

"As expected, the court fulfilled its mission and arrested Mikayel Arzumanyan. The show continues," he wrote on Facebook.

Lieutenant-General Arzumanyan, who has been charged with criminal negligence during the 2020 Artsakh war, currently serves as an advisor to the Artsakh president.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Investigative Committee claimed that Arzumanyan failed to properly perform his official duties after being appointed as commander of the Artsakh Defense Army on October 27, which led to “severe consequences”.

The law enforcement agency particularly blamed him for the capture of the town of Shushi by Azerbaijani forces, which left many Armenian soldiers dead and wounded.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS