Sakunts: investigation of incidents in Armenian Army should be as transparent as possible

Only a small portion of crimes committed in the Armed Forces of Armenia become known to the country's public, said Arthur Sakunts, head of the Vanadzor-based Office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, in his comment on frequented murder cases in the Armenian Army. According to his story, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is concealing information, especially facts related to cases of beating and bullying.

Let us remind you that today it became known about the death of Robert Avetisyan, 23, a rank-and-file regular soldier, at night on November 18 in the military unit, located in the city of Chambarak Gegarkun Region of Armenia. He died from gunshot wounds; and the circumstances surrounding his death are not known yet.

"By using the closed nature of their units, the Armed Forces are concealing plenty of crimes, while publicity for preventing such incidents is a must," said Arthur Sakunts.

He added that the results of inquiry of many army cases leave much to be desired. For example, relatives of the six soldiers, who perished this summer under mysterious circumstances, have not yet received the results of medical examination.

The "Caucasian Knot" was informed by human rights activist Mikael Danielyan, Chairman of the Helsinki Association, that "murders have always happened in the Armenian Army; it's no news. Just now, it all has suddenly gone out. I can't say why; maybe it's a consequence of some intra-power showdowns. But earlier it wasn't talked about; but now people are more open in such issues."

According to his version, the incessant incidents in the army are the result of the military system, which is completely corrupt and criminalized.

Anait, mother of a soldier Areg M., told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that she keeps her mobile phone on day-and-night and close to her: "We're at that service with all our family. No matter how army bosses assure us that everything is OK, we don't believe, as we get completely different information from our son. It's almost like a criminal colony, with all its unofficial rules: tricksters, secret informers, thefts and all other things. Yes, I am afraid for my son's life; it can't be otherwise, when you hear such things every day."

Let us note here that at the discussion on November 15, organized by the "Civilitas" Foundation and dedicated to the situation in the army, Alexander Avetisyan, Deputy Head of the Legal Division of the MoD's Policy Department, pointed to the trend towards reduction of fatal cases.

Thus, according to his story, while in 1995 the number of deaths, including both combat and non-combat losses amounted to 324 persons, in 1998, there were already 171 such cases, in 2002 - 62 and in 2004 - 38. According to Mr Avetisyan, today a number of structures are engaged in public control over the army.

According to the data, announced on November 8 by Arthur Sakunts, in 2010, the Armenian Army lost 31 persons, 8 of them died from sniper shots, while the rest of them - mostly from hazing."