Soldier Continues Service After War Without Proper Medical Examination

A soldier continued to serve without a proper medical examination. Reports from the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office indicate that a conscript soldier with health issues was not subjected to medical examination after participating in military operations, despite a deterioration in his health condition. Following communications from the HCA Vanadzor Office to the Ministry of Defense, he was finally presented for medical examination, based on the findings of which he was discharged early.

On December 23, 2020, the mother of Y.D., who was drafted in August 2020, contacted the HCA Vanadzor Office regarding her son’s health issues. Prior to conscription, the soldier had a stuttering condition and heart-related problems. Results from a 2015 medical examination at the Yerevan Psychoneurological Center indicated that he required special conditions for education.

During the conscription process, he underwent examination at Armenia Medical Center but was not hospitalized, was not referred for further medical examinations, and did not undergo dynamic monitoring. According to Article 68 of the Government of Armenia's Decision 404, “In the case of stuttering, the examined individual is subject to a comprehensive examination that includes consultation with a neurologist, psychiatrist, and an ear, nose, and throat doctor (as well as a speech therapist). The degree of expression of stuttering is determined through the dynamic monitoring of speech function under different conditions and is evaluated during the most pronounced instances of the disorder. The characteristic by the command plays a role in the expert conclusion, including how the stuttering affects the examined individual's fulfillment of their military obligations.”

Moreover, the soldier had heart problems, in particular, interatrial communication disorder, bradycardia, and tachycardia. Y.D. participated in the war unleashed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on September 27, 2020, and as his mother notes, even though Y.D.’s condition had worsened, he continued to fulfill his military duties. Despite the documented health issues since conscription, these were not taken into account either during the conscription or military service.

The HCA Vanadzor Office appealed to the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia for a comprehensive examination of the soldier’s health, ensuring complete treatment and restoration of both physical and mental health. Only after several letters and demands from HCA Vanadzor did the Ministry of Defense refer Y.D. for medical examination at the Central Clinical Military Hospital of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, based on which he was declared unfit for military service and discharged early.

Armine Sadikyan, coordinator of peace projects at HCA Vanadzor Office, states, “The whole issue revolves around late medical examinations. To what extent are proper and timely medical evaluations conducted during conscription and military service? If the citizen had not turned to us, and we to the Ministry of Defense, it turns out that the citizen would continue military service with serious health problems, which might lead to inefficient military service.”