Captain Yeghishe Hakobyan Remanded for Two Months

Captain Yeghishe Hakobyan, the suspect in the case of a fire that broke out in the barracks of the engineering and reconnaissance battalion located in the village of Azat, Gegharkunik Province, has been remanded for two months. This was announced by Hakobyan's lawyer, Hovsep Sargsyan.

Yesterday, it was reported that Yeghishe Hakobyan was arrested at the Muratsan Military Hospital and taken to court. “We will appeal because I believe the decision lacks legal and factual justifications concerning the detention,” said the lawyer.

According to a statement from the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Captain Yeghishe Hakobyan brought a 5-liter container of gasoline into the barracks in Azat village, which he intended to use as an adhesive. He poured the gasoline into a stove, which caused the fire that claimed the lives of 15 servicemen.

It should be noted that on January 19, around 01:30, a fire broke out in the barracks of the engineering and reconnaissance battalion of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, located in the territory of the village of Azat, Gegharkunik Province. As a result of the fire, 15 individuals perished, and 7 servicemen were injured.

Immediately after the incident, the commander of the 2nd Army Corps and other high-ranking military officials were dismissed from their posts.

A criminal case has been initiated based on Article 532, Part 4 of the RA Criminal Code (Violation of the rules for handling weapons, military equipment, or military property that poses an increased danger to the surrounding environment, which has negligently resulted in the death of two or more individuals). A criminal case has also been initiated against the fact of apparent negligence exhibited by officials regarding the failure to adhere to the established fire safety regulations and related functions.

In this case, Gor Agekian, the deputy chief of rear services and municipal operations of the Ministry of Defense N barracks, has also been detained. In addition to Yeghishe Hakobyan, a criminal case has also been initiated against the commander of the engineering and reconnaissance battalion, G.M.