5-Liter Gasoline Thrown Toward Military Barracks Due to Self-Defense Instinct: Details

Before the start of the government session, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan provided details about the causes of the fire that broke out in the engineer-sapper battalion. Pashinyan noted that on December 21, 2022, the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces signed Order 14, regarding "Fires in the Armed Forces and Their Prevention." There, clear instructions are given about what should be done to adhere to fire safety regulations.

“Point 7 states that it is strictly forbidden to use gasoline and flammable liquids for stoves. In other words, primitive adherence to this order would prevent this incident from occurring. But we find out that not only gasoline was used, but an attempt was made to open a 5-liter container to pour into the stove. Not only did the stove burn, but the fire also reached the sergeant who was trying to turn on the stove, and out of instinct for self-defense, the 5-liter gasoline was thrown towards the military barracks,” he said.

Pashinyan added that the preliminary investigation will uncover all circumstances of the incident, and all of this is just preliminary theories. It should be noted that the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia had reported on this incident today.

According to reports, a fire broke out around 01:30 on January 19 in unclear circumstances at the barracks of the engineer-sapper battalion located in the village of Azat in the Gegharkunik region. It was reported that despite firefighting efforts at the scene, the fire resulted in 15 fatalities and 3 injuries. In connection with the incident, dismissals have already occurred.