Open Letter

Open Letter
to Seyran Ohanyan
  RA Minister of Defence
  Dear Mr. Minister,
  The reason I’m applying to you is the situation of Ashot Voskanyan’s health, a soldier who is in service in RA DM 75937 military unit. Since 2008, a number of letters have been sent to you.

The letters did not have any results, A. Voskanyan’s health worsened and at present he is again in Vardenis military hospital.
  He was taken to RA DM 75937 military unit for service with the diagnosis ‘’Knee-cap mobility-bones twisting.”
  Doctors propose two types of treatment for such an illness: physical overwork and medical physical training, which will strengthen the joints and knee muscles, and muscles operation
  A. Voskanyan’s relatives and other organizations sent you letters asking to take measures to improve the soldier’s health.
  During the military service the first option of treatment was used which had no result.
  On March 26, 2009, Ashot Voskanyan was operated on. In fact, instead of plastic operation another one was done, which again had no result. Moreover, A. Voskanyan had pains that are more frequent.
  On June 26, 2009 general-major A. Paytyan, deputy head of the chief headquarters of RA Armed Forces, informed Ashot’s mother that on June 20, 2009 the best specialists of Armenia, doctor-professor Ayvazyan and Erebuni hospital director, professor Charchyan examined A. Voskanyan and as a result, he was recognized fit for non-regular service and was again sent to serve. By the way, documents in Russian were enclosed to the letter addressed to the soldier’s mother. At the bottom of those papers A. Voskanyan wrote in Armenian and signed: “I am informed that I fit for non regular service based on my health conditions and I am obliged to go to the military unit FROM now on.” This approach means forcedly send a sick young man to serve in the army, which can be defined as torture.
  In spite of doctors’ “interventions” on July 1, 2009, as the relatives of the soldier said, there were infections in Ashot’s knee, and he was again taken to Vardenis military hospital.
  The above-mentioned proves that though A. Voskanyan’s health worsened, the Ministry of Defence does not infer a conclusion and does not take INTO account the impossibility of continuing service in the army by Ashot. This is a cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and can have serious consequences.
  With this letter we demand that RA Ministry of Defence take effective measures towards improvement of this soldier’s health or cessation of his service.
  Artur Sakunts
Coordinator of HCA Vanadzor
Coordinator of AAC