Ministry of Defense of Armenia Issues a Statement

During a press briefing yesterday, Armenian National Assembly member Hayk Sargsyan made various statements regarding the "situation in the Ministry of Defense," prompting the ministry to clarify that the lawmaker's claim about a discussion concerning a soldier's death due to pneumonia during a closed session in 2024 is false information.

The Ministry of Defense stated, "We would like to add that there have been no recorded instances of deaths due to pneumonia in the armed forces in 2024. Since the initiation of the vaccination process in 2023, along with early detection of patients and proper organization of medical assistance, the overall incidence of pneumonia has significantly decreased by 8-13% each year, and there has also been a considerable reduction in the number of severe and extremely severe cases caused by pneumonia."

Furthermore, the lawmaker presented alleged figures regarding conscription and reserve calls, to which the ministry emphasized that data concerning conscription planning and numbers are classified. It was also noted that compared to 2022, the number of individuals called up in 2025 has increased by 25.3%.

Such misinformation can cause undue anxiety in society and create false perceptions regarding the conditions within the armed forces. We also declare that ensuring the hygiene of soldiers is constantly a central focus of the relevant authorities.