25 Years of Service Disregarded, Told It’s Inappropriate to Stay in Meghri: Former Unit Commander

I am a soldier; I have never engaged in politics. This was stated by Argam Gevorgyan in an interview with NEWS.am.

It has been reported that a service investigation has been initiated against the commanders of the Meghri and Mehrabi military units. The Ministry did not disclose the reasons, but according to circulating rumors, the commanders were dismissed for refusing to secure votes in favor of Prime Minister Pashinyan.

Argam Gevorgyan stated that he was discharged according to his own report. The former commander explained what led to this situation: “My superiors informed me that I was being discharged from service, stating that it was inappropriate for me to remain in Meghri. I wrote a report and was discharged. They wanted to release me from my job, I left voluntarily.”

Gevorgyan insisted that he has never engaged in politics and claimed that the problem lies elsewhere: “A communications officer, Lusine Mkrtchyan, secretly asked me to remove another subordinate and appoint her instead. I said, how can I remove someone else to appoint you? Don’t come to me with such requests again. After that, she started calling the hotline continuously, claiming that I was making derogatory comments about the authorities when calling my superiors.”

According to Argam Gevorgyan, another reason for these processes is that he is a friend of the Mayor of Meghri, Mkhitar Zakaryan. Gevorgyan also addressed the service investigation against him: “A service investigation began; my official duties were suspended. After questioning 80-100 people, it became clear that I was innocent. By the order of June 29, I was reinstated in my position. On my first day back to work, that girl called again and complained, saying she didn’t want to serve with me. In the evening, the General Staff informed me that I was urgently needed in Yerevan. The Ministry again informed me that my powers were suspended until July 5, and that girl complained again.”

Argam Gevorgyan recounted that he has gone through two wars and was wounded, but has always felt that his duty to the homeland remains unfulfilled and continued his service: “I have proven to them that I have never engaged in politics; I am a soldier. I have gone through two wars and stood beside my soldiers. Those commanders who fled the battlefield are now promoted, while my 24-25 years of service are disregarded. I have served my nation and homeland honorably and fought; I have fulfilled my duty.”