Motion to Summon Prime Minister Pashinyan and Minister Papikyan in Fire Incident Case

“We will submit a motion to summon Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan for questioning during the appropriate phase,” said Norayr Norikyan, the representative of the victims' interests in the case of the 15 servicemen who perished in a military barracks fire in the village of Azat, during a press conference.

He noted that two days ago, he reviewed the statements, comments, instructions, and assignments made by Nikol Pashinyan and Suren Papikyan during the government meeting on the day of the incident, January 19, 2023, as well as other information provided by individuals that could have significant and material importance in uncovering the truth regarding this case.

“A motion will be submitted to the court for a repeated investigative experiment, which means attempting to restore the facts, circumstances, and events subject to proof as much as possible. Experts have not only not ruled it out but have also deemed the implementation of a forensic experiment possible. If that motion is granted, I believe it could have significant implications for the true picture of the case, at least for the parents and the public's understanding,” Norikyan stated.

It is worth recalling that on January 19, 2023, during a government meeting, Nikol Pashinyan announced, “According to the preliminary data presented by the military police, an outbreak occurred due to violations of fire safety rules, during which a prohibited substance—gasoline—was also used, which subsequently could not be extinguished. We are establishing that not only gasoline was used, but, according to all preliminary data, there was an attempt to open a 5-liter container and pour it into the stove. Naturally, when the fire broke out, not only did the gasoline burn, but the fire also spread to the serviceman trying to ignite the stove, after which, according to preliminary data, in a defensive instinct, that 5-liter container of gasoline was thrown towards the barracks. We assume, with a high degree of likelihood, that it was not intentional, which clarifies what happened.”

It should be noted that on January 19, 2023, around 01:30, a fire erupted in the barracks of the engineering battalion stationed in the Azat village territory in the Gegharkunik region, resulting in the deaths of 15 conscript servicemen, and 7 servicemen were hospitalized.