It’s Absurd that Seyran Ohanyan Speaks of Social Justice

As much as we want to avoid criticizing today’s opposition and reminding former high-ranking officials of who they were in their "previous lives" to avoid pouring water into the destructive mill of the national disaster, it’s just not possible. Among today’s opposition, some former authorities accuse the current government of such issues that you simply cannot help but respond. Writes "Hraparak".

“As we know, the government intends to implement "reforms" in the army, and for the regular personnel, they plan to create an opportunity to be discharged early from service for 24 million drams (after 4.5 months). The mentioned amount is determined based on the logic that a contract soldier can be charged up to 400,000 drams per month for five years instead of a conscript. Expecting anything good from Pashinyan's government is already futile. This law fits very well into its program to dismantle and dissolve the army, which is being implemented at the request of his 'cultured and constructive' friend, Aliyev.

With this law, in effect, the opportunity is once again provided for the sons of socially secure families to avoid military service. This class has been privileged before. It's hard to remember any oligarch or son of a moderately wealthy family who served in the army, especially at the border. Now, it will simply be done legally. Previously, those funds ended up in the pockets of the military commissars or medical commissions, who then "bribed" their superiors with that money. But now, this will be done legally, and those funds will go into the budget. Another question is how that budget will be spent.

But it’s absurd that former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan speaks about social justice in this context. According to the former minister, social justice and unity will be violated. “I am not against those who have become rich. After all, we exist and develop our country thanks to the taxes they pay. But such people are very few, and the rest will strive to sell all their property and free themselves from military service.”

Seyran Ohanyan is a general of the victorious war, a good military officer, and a patriot. He has proven this throughout his life. But everyone in Armenia knows that social inequality in the army has existed since the past, also during Ohanyan’s ministry. Can anyone point out an oligarch, a wealthy official, or the son of an influential person who served under normal conditions, or has even served in the Armenian army led by Seyran Ohanyan? Those who went to the army were the children of socially vulnerable families; it was these children who served in border and dangerous military units. Wealthy families found ways for their children to be exempted from service, any “necessary” document, means, and the costs were significant—big money. At best, the sons of the wealthy "served" in a nearby “headquarters,” in Yerevan, at the Ministry of Defense, the military prosecutor’s office, or any structure equivalent to military service.

During Seyran Ohanyan's tenure, some military officials’ sons received apartments from the state purportedly for good service while many dedicated to the army or having become disabled in the war live in rented homes. Perhaps General Ohanyan would claim he was unaware of all this. But that is unlikely; all military commissariats operated directly under the Ministry of Defense and Minister Ohanyan’s command, the entire country was aware of this, and Ohanyan could not have been unaware. Transactions conducted without his knowledge were quickly uncovered.

The most vivid proof of the social inequality in the army during Ohanyan's time is the wealth, mansions, and expensive cars acquired by military commissars during their years of service, as well as real estate purchased abroad. This government can be criticized for everything. But some individuals should simply remain silent on certain issues, just as Seyran Ohanyan should remain silent when talking about injustices and social inequality in the army,” the publication states.