‘Zhoghovourd’: Investigating the Possibility of Soldier Suicides. What Instruction Did the Chief Prosecutor Give?

‘Zhoghovourd’ newspaper reports: 'While the Chief Prosecutor of Armenia and the Minister of Defense are summarizing 2019 in the military prosecutor's office and noting an 18.5% decrease in crimes in the Armed Forces, tragic incidents continue to occur one after another. From January 1 to February 12, 10 soldiers have died in the army, not as a result of enemy fire. Yesterday, another tragic event was reported, and according to preliminary versions, two conscript soldiers from various military units may have committed suicide.

By the way, the soldiers were in trenches, and all day yesterday, law enforcement officers were working at the scene trying to understand whether the soldiers shot themselves or were killed by someone else. Our information indicates that law enforcement is investigating the possibility of suicide in both cases. Judging by the situation, they are currently only punishing commanders by detaining them while leaving deeper issues, such as the psychological state of the soldiers or any internal disagreements, to chance, which can lead to fatal outcomes.

At the same time, details have emerged regarding a meeting between Chief Prosecutor Arthur Davtyan and military prosecutors. In particular, during a closed discussion, the prosecutor instructed to reopen the criminal case regarding the complaint against MP Arakel Movsisyan, also known as Shmays's son, which had previously been closed. ‘Zhoghovourd’ newspaper had reported that a hotline call was made last year, but it did not receive a proper response.'