Human Rights Activists Demand the Resignation of Serzh Sargsyan, as they say he does not “Feel Responsible’ for the Situation in the Army

President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, does not adequately comprehend the urgent need to reform the situation in the army and does not sense his direct responsibility for it. This is indicated in the statement by a number of Armenian human rights activists.

 

The statement is given below:

"On the 6th of September 2011, the human rights organizations mentioned below issued a statement expressing their concern over the current situation in the Armenian Army, particularly in relation to assaults and deaths. To solve these problems, the following demands were presented to the RA Commander-in-Chief with an expectation to see concrete steps within a month:

• the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Serzh Sargsyan must ensure an immediate detailed study of violations, murders, suicides and other criminal cases in the RA Army since 1994, involving independent experts and stakeholder NGOs to disclose the drawbacks and unlawfulness of the  preliminary investigation bodies;   

• provide guarantees to hold responsible all the officials guilty of flawed criminal proceedings and unlawful actions; 

• eliminate the non-regulated relations and unhealthy atmosphere in the army through recommendations of legislative amendments and enrolling participant NGOs; 

• ensure urgent, appropriate and dignified monetary and moral compensation to the families of servicemen who died in the Armenian Army during peacetime;  

As of this date we have registered the following: 

• the standing committee on defense, national security and internal affairs of the RA National Assembly has organized two working meetings behind closed doors with the RA Ministry of Defense, Military Prosecutor’s Office, Human Rights Defender, OSCE Yerevan, the Public Council Adjacent to the Defense Minister, human rights organizations, and families of the deceased soldiers, to discuss the problem; 

• Representatives of the RA Ministry of Defense have organized individual meetings with the families of the deceased soldiers;

• The interested parties have participated in the discussion organized by “the Army in Reality” Initiative Group and have presented their viewpoints on the situation in the army;  

• the RA Government has decided to increase the subsidy provided to the families of the deceased soldiers by 21 percent which is between 10,000 to 12,100 drams;

• the RA Minister of Defense has made statements regarding the necessity to increase the level of internal discipline in the armed forces;

• the sergeants responsible for the fatal car accident on October 3, 2011 during a camp gathering at Baghramyan Training Center have been penalized, and several high-ranking officers have been dismissed from their posts, and some have been warned;

• the RA Minister of Defense and the Military Prosecutor have reached an agreement  to create a working group to promote discipline, to reduce crime level, to prevent crimes and to tighten responsibility in the armed forces. The working group will be supported by the Ombudsman as well.

Parallel to this process, some representatives of the RA Ministry of Defense have tried to persuade the families of the deceased soldiers to refrain from publicly complaining about the murders in the army. On September 21, during the Independence Day Celebration, law enforcement bodies rudely impeded the protest of the families of deceased soldiers and public activists.

We believe that the above-mentioned steps taken by the relevant agencies are not sufficient to regulate the problems in the army, and the pressure against the families of the deceased soldiers prompts to question whether there is any political will for that normalization at all. 

In addition, we have recorded that the RA Supreme Commander-in-Chief has not expressed a position on the created situation and the issues we have raised. Society is also unaware of any specific corresponding actions taken by him. 

Analyzing such behavior, we believe that the RA Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Serzh Sargsyan, does not adequately comprehend the urgent need to reform the situation in the army and does not sense his direct responsibility for it. This is stated in the statement by a number of Armenian Human Rights Activists. Apparently, it is pointless to expect fundamental reforms from him that is why we are demanding his immediate resignation from the post.’ 

The statement has been signed by:

Artur Sakunts, “Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor” NGO  

Natalia Martirosyan, “Helsinki Citizen's Assembly Committee in Armenia” NGO 

Zhanna Aleksanyan, “Journalists for Human Rights” NGO 

Seda Melikyan, “Advocates for Human Rights” NGO 

Levon Barseghyan, “Asparez” Journalists’ Club NGO 

Sona Ayvazyan, “Transparency International Anticorruption Center” NGO 

Izabella Sargsyan,“Youth For Democracy” NGO 

Lala Aslikyan, “Huys”(Hope) NGO