YEREVAN. – The charges brought against Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) former Defense Minister and Defense Army Commander Samvel Babayan and Karabakh War veteran Sanasar Gabrielyan, who are under arrest along the lines of the criminal case into smuggling Igla missile system into Armenia, have been mitigated at the end of the investigation. 

Gabrielyan’s attorney, Karapet Aghajanyan, on Tuesday told about the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He noted that the charge of smuggling of military products has been removed, and his client is now charged solely with illegal acquisition, carrying or transporting of weapons, and ammunition. Aghajanyan noted that being a Karabakh war veteran, Sanasar Gabrielyan wished to purchase weapons for the armed forces of Armenia, but later, he was arrested in this connection.

Karapet Aghajanyan stated that the other defendant in the “Igla” case, Armen Poghosyan, is the person who attempted to mislead Gabrielyan, since he presented this missile system, which was actually acquired in Armenia, as a weapon that was imported from abroad, and attempted to make money in this way.

As reported earlier, Samvel Babayan, Sanasar Gabrielyan, and Armen Poghosyan are arrested along the lines of the criminal case into smuggling Igla missile system into Armenia. Criminal charges were filed against them, but, later, they were mitigated.

The investigation into this criminal case is completed, and its documents have been forwarded to the parties.