The Issue of Filling Vacant Positions of Lawyers and Psychologists in Military Units Requires Urgent Resolution: Ombudsman

Arman Tatoyan, the Ombudsman of Armenia, has published a new urgent report on military discipline and human rights in the armed forces on his Facebook page.

“The report specifically addresses the role of non-commissioned and commissioned officers in strengthening discipline, the challenges and solutions in those command structures. It also studies the role and significance of the deputy commander for moral and psychological work, the unit lawyer, and the psychologist in reinforcing discipline.

For military discipline to be stable and guaranteed, the ‘competent execution of duties’ by military personnel must be accompanied by a ‘responsible attitude towards service’, while ensuring that ‘undignified treatment of a colleague (including subordinates) is excluded’.

The report offers a robust formula for ensuring strong discipline: G + R - U = D, where 'G' stands for competent execution of duties (competence), 'R' stands for responsible attitude towards service (responsibility), 'U' stands for undignified treatment towards a colleague (attitude), and 'D' stands for military discipline. This is the rational formula for strengthening military discipline through professional means.

With such an approach, it is possible to ensure both military discipline and the protection and promotion of human rights based on the rule of law. Alongside positive developments during the visits of Ombudsman representatives to military units and the complaints addressed to the Ombudsman, several issues have been highlighted.

For instance, the problem of filling vacant positions of lawyers and psychologists in military units remains unresolved, which is particularly relevant given the important functions of each individual occupying these positions.

It is indisputable that lawyers in military units have an exceptional role in maintaining discipline, while psychologists play an irreplaceable role in providing a highly professional approach and special attention to the psychological condition of soldiers on a daily basis. Therefore, the issue of filling these positions requires urgent attention.

The report also identifies the need for raising legal awareness among military personnel, preparing professional and qualified specialists, principles of operation for individuals occupying specific positions, and related training organized for them, among several other issues.

The sector's challenges have also been assessed while taking into account the post-war conditions following the military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020. The report presents certain issues of discipline in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, evaluates the situation, and offers specific solutions to strengthen military discipline based on the rule of law.

This report was prepared by the specialized division of the Ombudsman’s staff, responsible for the protection of the rights of servicemen and their family members. The study is based on written and verbal complaints related to issues of discipline in the armed forces, including calls to the Ombudsman’s hotline, rapid response visits by Ombudsman representatives to military units and other military institutions, individual interviews with officers and soldiers, and meetings and discussions with their families.

Within the framework of the report, military discipline is presented from a human rights perspective, particularly emphasizing that strong discipline is a guarantee for ensuring human rights in the Armed Forces. The title of the report is: 'Discipline Based on the Rule of Law as a Guarantee of Human Rights in the Armed Forces.' The message of the report is: 'Strong discipline based on the rule of law is the foundation of a combat-ready army,'” Tatoyan wrote.