Gor Aghekyan Released from Custody in Military Barracks Fire Case in Azat Village

In relation to the criminal case regarding the fire at a military barracks in Azat village and the deaths of soldiers, the custody measure for Gor Aghekyan, the deputy commander of the military unit, has been altered by the court, and the accused was released from the courtroom.

Lawyer Gurgen Nersisyan announced this on his Facebook page. Nersisyan, who is part of the ‘LSA’ law office, had taken on the defense of Gor Aghekyan, who is charged in connection with the tragic incident that occurred on January 19, 2023, in the military barracks located in Azat village, Gegharkunik Province.

On August 23, 2024, the court, presided over by Judge Vardan Harutyunyan of the Gegharkunik Province First Instance General Jurisdiction Criminal Court, decided to change the custody measure for Aghekyan to an alternative measure and released him right from the courtroom.

Although there is still a need for long-term diligent work, the defense believes it has sufficient evidence and is confident that Gor Aghekyan's innocence will be conclusively established in the course of the trial.

The proceedings surrounding this incident, which shocked the Republic of Armenia on January 19, 2023, are under public scrutiny, with various statements and evaluations containing diverse texts and subtexts being regularly aired. Nevertheless, Judge Vardan Harutyunyan has managed to carry out justice with a high degree of responsibility, despite the unprecedented psychological and emotional burdens associated with this case, often leading to explosive situations regarding sensitive matters throughout the trial.