Lawyer Deems Charges Against Sarkis Galstyan Unfounded

In a significant development, the Investigative Committee of Armenia announced the completion of its investigation and the submission of the criminal case against Sarkis Galstyan, accused of espionage, to court. Galstyan, who is the uncle of Karabakh MP David Galstyan from the Justice faction, allegedly held various positions in occupied Karabakh, including deputy head of the Shusha district administration and deputy head of the Presidential Administration of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

According to the investigation, in November 2020, Galstyan contacted an Azerbaijani intelligence officer and began spying for the country under the pseudonym "Sarkhan." The charges against him fall under part 1 of Article 424 of the Armenian Criminal Code, which addresses the transfer, collection, abduction, or storage of information constituting a state secret for the purpose of transferring it to a foreign state or its representatives. This offense carries severe penalties, including imprisonment for 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

Sarkis Galstyan was one of the few who remained in Karabakh after the Armenian population's departure to Armenia. Rumors circulated that the Aliyev administration appointed him as the commandant of Hankendi, which were later debunked. It was revealed that Galstyan stayed in Karabakh with his wife and was the only remaining official. However, a few months later, the Armenian publication hraparak.am reported that Azerbaijanis suspected the couple of filming and distributing videos on social media showing atrocities committed by Azerbaijanis in Hankendi. After a severe beating, Galstyan decided it was impossible to live in such a hostile environment and moved to Armenia with his wife, only to be arrested in Goris. Critics argue that it is unlikely the Azerbaijani side would have allowed Galstyan to leave for Armenia if he were indeed their spy.

His wife was released shortly after, but Galstyan remained in custody, facing charges of passing state secrets to Azerbaijani intelligence. His defender, Alexander Kochubaev, dismisses the allegations as absurd. The prosecution claims Galstyan received three million rubles for espionage activities, but Kochubaev contends that the money transfer occurred during the blockade of Artsakh, making it impossible for Galstyan to have accessed it.

Interestingly, the Investigative Committee stated that Galstyan confessed to the charges, but Kochubaev disputes this, arguing that Galstyan only confessed under duress, fearing for the safety of his wife and child. According to Kochubaev, there is no substantial evidence to support the espionage claims. He challenges the reliability of the alleged confession and questions the authenticity of the connection between Galstyan and Azerbaijani intelligence.

Addressing questions regarding the unfounded claims of Galstyan's appointment as commandant of Hankendi, Kochubaev insisted that these rumors originated in Armenia and lacked any factual basis. He also mentioned that no connection with Baku was found on Galstyan's phone. Kochubaev believes this case is another example of politically motivated accusations without credible evidence.

David Galstyan, Sarkis Galstyan's nephew, also refutes the charges, labeling them as part of a broader narrative. He cited instances where individuals convicted of high treason in Karabakh are freely residing in Yerevan, yet his uncle is being targeted.

In a statement, the Investigative Committee hinted at ongoing proceedings against other individuals linked to Galstyan, but did not disclose further details. Sarkis Galstyan, with a history of military service in the 1990s and experience in government and national security roles, remains a contentious figure amid allegations that carry deep political and legal implications. As the case unfolds in court, the scrutiny on the evidence and motivations behind the charges will likely intensify.

A priori, Galstyan cannot be considered a spy who spied for Azerbaijan. He is not a citizen of Armenia. He was born and lived on the territory of Azerbaijan until April 2024 and had every right to take any action within the framework of his status quo. From the point of view of international law, he cannot qualify as a spy.