Soldier Opens Fire on Colleague, Mistaking Him for Enemy

A criminal case has been initiated in connection with the death of a soldier, based on violations of the rules for combat duty and military service, reports the Investigative Committee.

According to preliminary data from the report, on September 30 at approximately 23:40, a conscript soldier stationed at a combat position in the outpost, hearing footsteps, mistakenly thought that the approaching individual was an enemy soldier. Violating the rules established by the relevant order of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia regarding the conduct of combat duty, he opened fire towards his colleague using an AKM-type rifle, resulting in the latter sustaining fatal gunshot wounds.

The soldier who fired the shots has been arrested on suspicion of committing a crime as described in part 6 of Article 540 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

An investigation is underway.