Not so many incidents occur in the Armenian army now, but they just evoke an immensely strong public response, RA Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan stated in Parliament on September 15, speaking of the recent murders and suicides in the Armenian army.
“I do not think that, under the circumstances, it would be right to launch a large-scale campaign against the Ministry of Defense,” the minister complained.
According to him, criminal proceedings were initiated on each incident. “Serious preventive measures are being taken in the armed forces. I personally meet with the killed soldiers’ relatives after each sitting of the Government,” Minister Ohanyan said.
He also refuted the widespread opinion that the RA Ministry of Defense has a practice of interpreting murders as suicides. “Yes, it was only in the case of the officer Artak Nazaryan, but that was an initial statement. Investigation is under way now under my personal control,” the Minister said.
Commenting on the Youtube video demonstrating harassment of soldiers, allegedly in the Armenian army, the Minister stated he does not believe such things happen in the Armenian army. He pointed out that experts are now studying the video. “If we find out such a thing really happened, the one guilty will be punished severely. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to find that man,” the Minister said. He also stressed that those who put the video on Youtube will be punished as well.
Minister Ohanyan also refuted the rumors about his strained relations with Chief of the General Staff Yuri Khachaturov. “Khachaturov comes to see me several times a day,” the Minister said.
Speaking of the present state of the Armenian armed forces, Minister Ohanyan stressed that the army is one of the greatest achievements of modern Armenian history. “Armenia must cope with the tasks set to it both by itself and with the people’s support,” he said. According to the Minister, the command staff of the Armenian armed forces is highly professional and well-educated. They are well informed of both the strong and weak points of the army. The Minister said that personnel changes are regular in the Armenian army. “Those unable to properly perform their duties are dismissed,” Ohanyan said.
