Why was the soldier burning firewood? Andranik Kocharyan on the tragic incident

There are numerous unresolved issues in the army, and ignoring or sidelining them can lead to such manifestations. This was stated today, January 23, during a broadcast of "Lurer" by Andranik Kocharyan, the Chairman of the National Assembly Defense and Security Committee and a member of the "Civil Contract" faction, while addressing the tragic fire that occurred in a military unit on January 19.

Kocharyan reported that he visited the 2nd Army Corps of the Armenian Armed Forces yesterday and became acquainted with several circumstances of the incident: “It is known that a fire occurred, resulting in casualties and injuries. To thoroughly investigate the causes of the fire, I instructed the law enforcement agencies and military leadership to restore the entire picture for at least one day — from the morning until the moment of the fire, and after that, we will understand where and what deficiencies existed, as the deficiencies are evident at first glance. Not only were fire safety rules not followed, but also many other security-related rules were not adhered to, including interpersonal relationships; there are numerous issues.”

According to Kocharyan, only through the investigation will they be able to clearly understand the causes of the deficiencies. “Why was the soldier burning firewood? Where were the soldiers who were supposed to carry out those actions? Two people were on duty outside; they did not die. They are very important witnesses who must provide information to the investigative body. A few soldiers were also rescued, who, with the help of the duty officers, managed to open the grates and get out. The squad commander confirmed that gasoline was indeed not present in the area. How did the gasoline, placed 10-15 meters from the barracks, end up in the barracks? The part that was always used as a coating has been mixed with diesel fuel, which is usually not flammable. Everyone knows that gasoline is not poured onto a fire,” Kocharyan stated.

Addressing the issues related to the relationships between captains and soldiers, Andranik Kocharyan remarked, “These are unresolved issues in the army that require solutions. Both society and the Armed Forces' personnel must be very diligent in demanding solutions to these issues. It is possible that there could be similar focal points in the army again where orders are given, but their execution is sidelined.”

Recall that on January 19, at approximately 1:30 AM, a fire erupted in the barracks of the engineering battalion of the military unit located in the village of Azat in the Gegharkunik region, resulting in the death of 15 conscript soldiers. Seven soldiers were taken to the Vardenis hospital, four of whom were discharged after receiving medical assistance, while three were transferred to Yerevan with serious injuries—the National Burn Center.