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ARMENIAN SOLDIER COMPLAINS OF DISCRIMINATION, PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN ARMY
epress.am
11.03.2011 12:00
Hovhannes Yesayan, a 19-year-old Yerevan resident serving in military
unit 21127 in the village of Mehrab in Armenia~Rs Tavush marz
(province), called local youth civic initiative group ~SWe Won~Rt Be
Silent~T to report that his speaking out against discrimination and
preferential treatment prevalent in the military unit has resulted
in regimental commander, Colonel Seyran Ghazaryan and unit chief,
Lieutenant Colonel Artur Kirakosyan persecuting him.
According to Yesayan, a harmless argument between him and a fellow
soldier gave cause for the colonel and lieutenant colonel to settle
accounts with him by sending the matter to court. In Yesayan~Rs words,
the two men provided false material to law enforcement agencies
and asked for the conscript to be sentenced to two months in prison
(presumably for a minor offense of procedural violations).
The young conscript says he is aware that the court has issued a
ruling, as he was told (by the court) that the decision would be
sent to him at the base 5 days after the court date; however, army
commanders are telling him they have not yet received the written
ruling. Yesayan says this is so that the 10-day period allowed to
appeal the court decision expires.
The youth civic initiative group, upon Yesayan~Rs request, has made
public the Nov. 2 phone conversation between Yesayan and ~SWe Won~Rt
Be Silent~T through a video uploaded on YouTube. The video (in Armenian
only) has been sent to Armenia~Rs Ministry of Defense.
epress.am
11.03.2011 12:00
Hovhannes Yesayan, a 19-year-old Yerevan resident serving in military
unit 21127 in the village of Mehrab in Armenia~Rs Tavush marz
(province), called local youth civic initiative group ~SWe Won~Rt Be
Silent~T to report that his speaking out against discrimination and
preferential treatment prevalent in the military unit has resulted
in regimental commander, Colonel Seyran Ghazaryan and unit chief,
Lieutenant Colonel Artur Kirakosyan persecuting him.
According to Yesayan, a harmless argument between him and a fellow
soldier gave cause for the colonel and lieutenant colonel to settle
accounts with him by sending the matter to court. In Yesayan~Rs words,
the two men provided false material to law enforcement agencies
and asked for the conscript to be sentenced to two months in prison
(presumably for a minor offense of procedural violations).
The young conscript says he is aware that the court has issued a
ruling, as he was told (by the court) that the decision would be
sent to him at the base 5 days after the court date; however, army
commanders are telling him they have not yet received the written
ruling. Yesayan says this is so that the 10-day period allowed to
appeal the court decision expires.
The youth civic initiative group, upon Yesayan~Rs request, has made
public the Nov. 2 phone conversation between Yesayan and ~SWe Won~Rt
Be Silent~T through a video uploaded on YouTube. The video (in Armenian
only) has been sent to Armenia~Rs Ministry of Defense.