I Cannot Make Such a Statement: Deputy Minister on Dismissals in the Ministry of Defense

Today, after a meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Defense and Security, Deputy Minister of Defense Gabriel Balayan responded to journalists' questions about whether the dismissals in the Ministry of Defense are related to the deaths of soldiers in the army, stating, "I cannot make such a statement. I believe that it should be clarified through an investigation whether there is a direct connection or not."

When asked if more dismissals were expected and whether there would be personnel changes, Balayan replied, "It is not within my authority to make decisions regarding dismissals at that level. There is a Minister of Defense, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the President, and that falls under their jurisdiction."

Speaking about the restrictions on soldiers using phones in military units, Balayan noted that bringing phones into the units is prohibited, and many times it is the parents who bring phones for their sons. "One soldier was found with four phones," he said. In response to how they ended up there, he remarked, "Probably through trickery. Parents come and give them during visits. If we prohibit the current method of phone usage, we will be accused and said that things are happening in the army and we are trying to hide them."