Soldier with Burns in the Trenches Did Not Receive Help for 5 Hours, Parents Report

On July 17th, a month ago, conscript soldier Palayan Poghosyan sustained burns at the positions in Sisian and passed away on July 26. However, the Ministry of Defense led by Suren Papikyan has not provided any clarification regarding the incident. The grieving Poghosyan family, who do not associate their 19-year-old son Palayan's death with any negligence, are also saddened by the attitude of state agencies.

"They are careless and irresponsible," say Palayan's parents, noting that they only learned about the incident that occurred around 2:00 a.m. on the night of July 16-17 on July 18 at around 12:30 p.m., according to Forrights.am.

Neither the Ministry of Defense nor the local military commissariat informed Palayan's parents about his burns. "We found out about the incident from fellow soldiers through a phone call," said his father, Jivan Poghosyan.

"No commander or officer told us anything. If they had informed us earlier, perhaps I could have reached sooner and saved my son," emphasizes Palayan's mother, Galya Ayvazyan. It is noteworthy that the ministry officially reported the incident only eight days later, on July 25, stating that Palayan had suffered second-degree thermal burns.

It is mentioned that Palayan received burns from a fire that broke out from a stove placed in a wagon-type shelter designated for soldiers' rest. According to his parents, the incident occurred at around 2 a.m., during Palayan's rest period. After sustaining the burns, when Palayan was transferred to the National Burn Center, he managed to communicate details to his parents for 3-4 days.

The Poghosyan family provides harrowing details about how their son, who sustained burns, did not receive any first aid for nearly five hours. According to them, Palayan, who was burned around 2 a.m., waited for medical assistance until approximately 6:00-7:00 a.m., as no one responded to the rescue calls from the positions for hours. "They were able to get him to the Sisian hospital and then to the hospital in Yerevan. We strongly doubt that any first aid was provided. There was absolutely no first aid, no first aid supplies were available. They couldn't get in touch or had no means of communication; people were sleeping. They had no connection, no first aid kits, no oxygen tanks; they had nothing at all," the parents recount, corroborating each other’s statements.

According to Galya Ayvazyan, Palayan's fellow soldiers tried to extinguish the flames on him using water and dirt. "The fire on the child was extinguished with dirt and water. The body infection came from the dirt and water," says the mother, adding that not only was the transfer to the hospital delayed, but it also exacerbated the burns he sustained. "He was transported in a 'Willis' vehicle at around 6:00-7:00 a.m. He had to endure the pain until approximately 6:00-6:30 a.m. Can you imagine sitting in that 'Willis' with all those burns, with the wounds being crushed? My son's entire face, waist, abdomen, and upper and lower limbs were burned while being transferred from the post to the Sisian hospital. The post is located at an altitude of 3,700 meters; it is the highest post, Zghuk's post in the Syunik region," the mother recalls.

Palayan's parents are seeking answers as to why he was not transferred to Yerevan by helicopter even from Sisian. "Could the transfer from Sisian hospital not have been done by helicopter? What are our country's helicopters for, pleasures?" questions Palayan's mother.

Neither the National Burn Center nor the Azatana community, where the Poghosyans reside, has seen a visit from the Minister of Defense. Palayan's father holds Suren Papikyan responsible for his son's death, emphasizing that the incident was due to his negligent governance.

For more details, refer to the original source.