New Data on Soldier Deaths

The number of incidents recorded in the armed forces and other troops in 2024 amounted to 2,093, compared to 2,358 in 2023. This was reported in the 2024 activity report of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia. There has been a decrease of 265 incidents or 11.2 percent. Of these, 762 (36.4 percent) were accidents, while 1,331 (63.6 percent) were criminal offenses.

The overall reduction in the number of crimes amounted to 224 cases or 14.4 percent. Military crimes decreased by 132 (15.6 percent), while other crimes decreased by 92 (13 percent). The Prosecutor's Office attributes this to an increase in the level of discipline in the armed forces and a relative easing of border tensions.

Of the 1,555 crimes recorded in 2023, 320 were heavy and particularly severe, while in 2024, the number of heavy and particularly severe crimes was 217, a decrease of 103 or 32.2 percent. Specifically, in 2024, there were 178 heavy and 39 particularly severe crimes, which represents a 50 percent decrease in the number of particularly severe crime cases compared to 2023. Among these 39 cases, there were 3 murders committed by the adversary, 14 attempted murders, 9 murders, 6 instances of torture, 4 illegal drug sales, 2 cases of death by negligence, and 1 case of sexual violence.

In 2024, 27 cases of soldier deaths were recorded, compared to 54 in 2023. This represents a 50 percent decrease. The reduction in this indicator is particularly attributed to a significant decrease in murder cases by the adversary (4 in 2024 vs. 19 in 2023) and the absence of violations of regulations regarding the handling of military ammunition, which led to the death of 17 soldiers in 2023.

The distribution of deaths is as follows: murder by the adversary - 4, murder - 5, causing suicide by negligence - 7, road traffic accident - 4, violation of combat vehicle driving rules - 1, aviation accident - 2, illness - 3, accident - 1.