Surik Papikyan Clarifies the Cause of the Fire in the Military Unit

According to preliminary data provided by the military police, the fire outbreak was caused by violations of fire safety regulations. Additionally, a prohibited substance, gasoline, was used, making it impossible to extinguish the fire afterward. This was stated by Defense Minister Surik Papikyan during a cabinet meeting, addressing the fire incident at Military Unit N, which claimed the lives of 15 servicemen.

In response to the minister's comments, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the need to clarify who had failed to act appropriately.

It is noted that on January 19, at around 01:30, a fire broke out under yet-to-be-determined circumstances in the barracks of the engineering battalion of the Armenian Ministry of Defense’s Military Unit N, located in the village of Azat, Gegharkunik Province. Despite firefighting efforts at the scene, there were casualties and injuries as a result of the fire. Preliminary reports indicate that 15 servicemen lost their lives, and the condition of three others is assessed as severe.