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TWO ARRESTED IN SOLDIER DEATH PROBE
RFE/RL
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
One officer and one soldier were arrested on Wednesday in connection
with the latest non-combat death in the Armenian army's ranks which
has sparked a fresh public outcry against chronic abuse of military
personnel.
Armenia's Defense Ministry refused to identify the detainees, citing
"the interests of the investigation" and the need to protect their
families. It also said that more arrests are possible "in the coming
days."
Ministry spokesman Davit Karapetian told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am) that the tow men are suspected of causing the death
of Aghasi Abrahamian, an 18-year-old army conscript.Abrahamian,
who served in an army unit near Nagorno-Karabakh, died shortly after
being hospitalized with serious injuries late on Friday. The soldier
was reportedly unconscious when he was brought to a Karabakh military
hospital.Military authorities in Yerevan launched an investigation
under a Criminal Code clause dealing with involuntary manslaughter.
Abrahamian's relatives believe that the conscript was beaten to death
and want the investigators to treat the case accordingly.According
to Karapetian, the two arrested suspects may face more serious
accusations.
The official also said that Armenia's chief military prosecutor,
Gevorg Kostanian, and the head of the Defense Ministry's Investigative
Department, Armen Harutiunian, arrived at the army unit in question
on Saturday to personally lead the inquiry. Deputy Defense Minister
Vladimir Gasparian will also travel to Karabakh for that purpose
on Thursday, he added.Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said late
on Tuesday that the military will do "everything" to solve the
embarrassing case. "We have identified the circle of persons who could
have affected or beaten the soldier, and serious work is now underway
within the framework of the criminal case," he told journalists.
The assurances came amid a wave of public indignation triggered by
Abrahamian's death. Local media and civic activists renewed their angry
claims that the military command is doing little to tackle hazing of
soldiers and other violent crimes committed in the armed forces.
According to unconfirmed data from Armenian human rights groups, 20
soldiers have been killed by fellow servicemen, committed suicide
or died in various accidents and as a result of illnesses so far
this year.
Ohanian did not confirm or deny this figure. He said only that
the first half of 2011 saw the lowest number of non-combat deaths
since 2007.
Ohanian has repeatedly pledged over the past year to get tougher on
army crime.
RFE/RL
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
One officer and one soldier were arrested on Wednesday in connection
with the latest non-combat death in the Armenian army's ranks which
has sparked a fresh public outcry against chronic abuse of military
personnel.
Armenia's Defense Ministry refused to identify the detainees, citing
"the interests of the investigation" and the need to protect their
families. It also said that more arrests are possible "in the coming
days."
Ministry spokesman Davit Karapetian told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am) that the tow men are suspected of causing the death
of Aghasi Abrahamian, an 18-year-old army conscript.Abrahamian,
who served in an army unit near Nagorno-Karabakh, died shortly after
being hospitalized with serious injuries late on Friday. The soldier
was reportedly unconscious when he was brought to a Karabakh military
hospital.Military authorities in Yerevan launched an investigation
under a Criminal Code clause dealing with involuntary manslaughter.
Abrahamian's relatives believe that the conscript was beaten to death
and want the investigators to treat the case accordingly.According
to Karapetian, the two arrested suspects may face more serious
accusations.
The official also said that Armenia's chief military prosecutor,
Gevorg Kostanian, and the head of the Defense Ministry's Investigative
Department, Armen Harutiunian, arrived at the army unit in question
on Saturday to personally lead the inquiry. Deputy Defense Minister
Vladimir Gasparian will also travel to Karabakh for that purpose
on Thursday, he added.Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said late
on Tuesday that the military will do "everything" to solve the
embarrassing case. "We have identified the circle of persons who could
have affected or beaten the soldier, and serious work is now underway
within the framework of the criminal case," he told journalists.
The assurances came amid a wave of public indignation triggered by
Abrahamian's death. Local media and civic activists renewed their angry
claims that the military command is doing little to tackle hazing of
soldiers and other violent crimes committed in the armed forces.
According to unconfirmed data from Armenian human rights groups, 20
soldiers have been killed by fellow servicemen, committed suicide
or died in various accidents and as a result of illnesses so far
this year.
Ohanian did not confirm or deny this figure. He said only that
the first half of 2011 saw the lowest number of non-combat deaths
since 2007.
Ohanian has repeatedly pledged over the past year to get tougher on
army crime.