Video: Papikyan Addresses the Disappearance of Soldier Norik Mkrtchyan, Missing for 9 Months

On May 18, 2021, conscript soldier Norik Mkrtchyan went missing from a combat position. The investigative body has launched a criminal case and declared an international search, yet his whereabouts remain unknown after 9 months. Two months ago, on November 12, 2021, a contracted soldier was reported missing from one of the combat posts along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Member of parliament Tigran Abrahamyan, during a question-and-answer session with the government at the National Assembly, stated that the disappearance of soldiers under unclear circumstances speaks to the seriousness of the situation. The Ministry of Defense has remained silent about the contracted soldier who went missing two months ago, and there is still no information about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the soldier who has been missing for 9 months; their whereabouts are unknown.

Regarding what the Ministry of Defense is doing, Minister Suren Papikyan indicated that all cases are being investigated by the Investigative Committee and that the Ministry has directed the written inquiries of MPs to the Committee. Papikyan mentioned that he is ready to discuss details of the cases during a meeting with Abrahamyan but did not provide any further news.

The MP inquired about how many non-combat losses there were in 2021, whether the ministry has conducted a study on the causes leading to the deaths of soldiers due to non-statutory relationships, and if they have a finalized analysis. Papikyan stated that he is not prepared to present data from the National Assembly podium, but confirmed there are numerous concerning factors and incidents that have occurred in 2021. He reminded that this does not pertain to his term as minister, yet it falls within his area of responsibility.

“I am pursuing a detailed investigation into each case and we are intensively working with the investigative authorities. There is no issue that should be concealed, no issue that we should not speak about, but we should only discuss it when there are clarified circumstances. There is no clear answer that I can provide from this podium. There is analysis that I have not yet approved, as it does not satisfy me yet. There are many cause-and-effect problems—starting from psychological issues related to the post-war situation, to those arising from open publications about the military, which the media greatly encourages. The problems we can solve together become the property of everyone, including the adversary.”

Papikyan advised caution when discussing the army, as it could have repercussions for people and the country.