Armed Forces Chief of Staff Urges Against Exploiting Deaths in Military

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia has issued a statement regarding the death cases recorded in the Armed Forces this year. The statement highlighted that, from January 1 to February 17, 2020, 13 death cases (including conscript and contract soldiers, as well as officers) were recorded, of which 4 were due to unfortunate accidents, 4 were related to circumstances not connected to military service (illness, personal issues), and criminal cases have been initiated for the remaining 5 deaths, with circumstances currently being investigated.

The Chief of Staff calls on media representatives, political and public figures, analysts, and “experts” to refrain from exploiting these military death cases for personal and political gain, and urges the public to avoid misinformation and manipulation, following only official news feeds.

The military is the main institution ensuring our country's stability, and it is interconnected not only with the state as a whole but also with each individual. It is understandable that the public reacts vigorously to any incident related to the Armed Forces, especially when fatalities are involved. We assure that each case is comprehensively and thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities, necessary conclusions are drawn, and every possible measure is taken to rectify shortcomings and prevent their recurrence in the future.

We urge everyone to be patient, refrain from emotional characterizations, unfounded accusations, and to exercise caution while expressing any public opinions regarding the institution that ensures the security of the state, be it in media, social networks, or other platforms.

The death of any serviceman is a great loss and sorrow for the leadership of the Armed Forces. We once again express our condolences to the relatives of all fallen servicemen and wish them patience. We assure that the combat readiness of our servicemen is high, and we will continue to perform the combat tasks set before us with unwavering commitment.