It is alleged the soldier with “mental disorder” has been raped

In a meeting with journalists, Artur Sakunts, Head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, referred to the statistics of death cases in the army, pursuant to which, the rate of the death cases due to violation of cease-fire rule is greater that the deaths during peace period.

He claimed an explanation of this issue from the RA Ministry of Defense. Artur Sakunts informed that 306 death cases were recorded during 2005-2011, only 10 % of which occurred due to violation of cease-fire rule.

According to him, 32 out of the 228 death cases during 2007-2011 were only due to violation of truce. By the human rights activists’ words, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is responsible for the death cases in the Forced Army, while negligence and inactivity on his part is inconceivable.  

Sakunts also touched upon the issue of the soldier, who is currently at the psychiatric establishment. Information on the aforementioned incident was disseminated through mass media today. Sakunts stated that case was a blur and it was surprising how the soldier could have arrived at this stage and why his condition was aggravating, when he was being told he would go back to military service.

Avetik Ishkhanayan, Head of “Armenian Helsinki Committee” pointed out that the case of the soldier was horrifying and there was grounded suspicion that an attempt of rape was made against him. “The atmosphere of unaccountability in the army brings about new victims.”  

“The RA Ministry of Defense has found a new method through which it avoids responsibility by blaming all the problems on the parents. Almost in all of the cases, new letters are revealed  stating the cause of the death”, pointed out Zhanna Aleksanyan from “Journalists for Human Rights” NGO, a press conference participant. She also noted that in all of the cases the handwriting examination asserts that the soldiers have written the letters, while the parents are not allowed to take the letters of their sons for additional handwriting examinations.

By criticizing the death cases and the atmosphere of unaccountability in the army, Meri Khachatryan from “Sakharaov Center for Human Rights Protection” urged the authorities to disclose all the criminal cases since 1994 and carry out fair trials with the participation of a working group, comprised of experts and specialists. She also added that the Minister of Defense, Military Prosecutor and Human Rights Defender should have convened the press conference.

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