Armenia: right defenders to demand resignation of Supreme Commander-in-Chief

The leaders of several human rights organizations of Armenia express their concern about the situation in the Armenian Army and declare that, if no serious steps on solving crimes in the army are taken within a month, they will demand resignation of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

This was reported at the joint press conference of the Armenian human rights activists on September 6.

According to Arthur Sakunts, Chairman of the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, during the period from 2007 to 2011, the Armenian Army registered 228 deaths; and only 32 of them were caused by ceasefire violations.

The human rights activist emphasized that only 10 per cent of the total number of deaths was associated with combat losses. "It turns out that in reality the service in peaceful environment is more dangerous than being on the military posts and positions," Arthur Sakunts stated and added that Supreme Commander-in-Chief was directly responsible for the tragic incidents in the army.

According to Avetik Ishkhanyan, another human rights activist, Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the criminal cases instituted on the facts of soldiers' deaths have not been solved during several years. "The atmosphere of impunity in the army leads to new victims," Avetik Ishkhanyan said.

Zhanna Alexanyan, Chairman of the NGO "Journalists for Human Rights", expressed her indignation by the fact that "many murders were presented by the authorities as suicides. The Ministry of Defence found this article "on incitement to suicide" and avoids responsibility due to it, Ms Alexanyan said.

Besides, the human rights activists emphasized that until now the Armenian authorities refused to publish the exact number of soldiers perished or murdered in the army in peacetime.

According to Norair Shakhbazyan, a former participant of the Karabakh war, similar problems existed in the army in all times. "And the fact that today these problems are of public interest and the society changes its attitude to them is very positive. However, at the same time it looks like a show," he said.

Karen Avagyan, a deputy of the National Assembly from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, believes that the problems in the army are radicalized. "However, it is unacceptable, since, given the state of war or peace, we should not weaken our army by talks like that," he has emphasized.