14 Bodies of Soldiers Found in Different Parts of Barracks After Tragic Fire

In the village of Azat, Gegharkunik Province, 14 of the 15 soldiers who died in a fire that broke out in an engineering battalion barrack have been found in various parts of the sleeping quarters, while the body of the deceased soldier was discovered in the foyer of the barrack, right in front of the bedroom entrance. This was reported on the air of Public Television by Arshak Martirosyan, head of the Military Prosecutor's Office's division overseeing especially important investigations concerning military service.

According to him, the hypothesis voiced by Arsen Saroyan, a representative of the rescue service, that all the soldiers were found on their beds, has been refuted by testimony. He stated that he was not at the scene at the time of the incident; his understanding of the information he received orally regarding the soldiers found in the bedroom was different.

The Prosecutor's Office is also investigating claims by the relatives of the deceased soldiers that there had been strained relations between Captain Yeghishe Hakobyan and the soldiers. Hakobyan's defense attorney, Hovsep Sargsyan, stated that Yeghishe did not live in that barrack and had little opportunity to interact with the soldiers.

It should be noted that on January 19, around 01:30, a fire broke out in the barrack of the engineering detachment of the RA Ministry of Defense located in the area of the village of Azat in Gegharkunik province, resulting in the deaths of 15 conscripted soldiers. Seven soldiers were taken to the Vardenis hospital, of which four were discharged after receiving medical assistance, while three were transported to Yerevan with serious injuries to the National Burn Center.

Immediately after the incident, the commander of the 2nd Army Corps and seven other high-ranking military officials were dismissed from their posts. Hours after the incident, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented the official version during a government meeting, according to which an officer poured gasoline on a stove, and when the fire caught him, he threw a 5-liter gasoline can toward the barrack in an act of 'self-defense,' which caused the fire.

Later, the platoon commander informed journalists that there had been no gasoline in the barrack, effectively contradicting the Prime Minister. The military prosecutor also announced that it remains unclear whether gasoline or diesel fuel was involved.

It is noteworthy that a criminal case has been initiated regarding the incident under Article 532(4) of the RA Criminal Code (violation of safety rules concerning weapons, ammunition, military equipment, or military property that poses a greater danger to the environment, which negligently led to the death of two or more persons). A new criminal case has also been initiated under Article 550(3) of the Criminal Code, characterized by military negligence that has resulted in death.

Within the framework of this initiated procedure, days ago the Head of the Rear Services and Commander of the barrack's rear and communal exploitation service, G.A., was arrested and subsequently detained. The heads of the communal service of the barrack and the deputy for rear and communal exploitation services have also been charged in this case, both of whom are in custody.