VIDEO: Suren Papikyan Addresses Death of Soldier Due to Avalanche

Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has addressed the death of a soldier due to an avalanche, stating, "The full picture can become clear as a result of an internal investigation. Issues leading to this unfortunate incident will be revealed through investigative actions. The problem has two sides, one of which is natural conditions." He added that during the past 10 days, there have been extremely difficult and sometimes unbearable weather conditions in high mountainous areas.

"Currently, there are more than 200 inaccessible positions that are opened on a daily basis, but under these weather conditions, they are constantly subject to closure due to snowstorms and avalanches," he noted. According to Papikyan, there are about 10 positions where access by vehicle is impossible under all weather conditions, including the hottest periods of summer. "Whether we like it or not, the movement of soldiers to these positions and the delivery of food is done on foot or by other means, dictated by the geographical conditions of the positions," he said.

Papikyan also mentioned that the frontline has been formed over the past three years, and not all directions are known as potential avalanche areas. He stated that there is a written order to refrain from movement during those days. "During those days, the service terms of five soldiers expired, but due to adverse weather conditions, four of them continued to remain in their positions. It was only after two days that they could be lowered from the positions and properly sent home." According to Papikyan, there is a hypothesis that there was a lot of external pressure. "I want to urge the relatives of soldiers to refrain from unreasonable demands on the officers of the Armed Forces in all circumstances."