Sargsyan accused of killings in Armenian army
Armenians see the military service as the true hell – it’s good luck if an Armenian soldier returns home safe and sound. Today’s doleful situation in the army is one of the main topics discussed in the Armenian society.
Armenians see the military service as the true hell – it’s good luck if an Armenian soldier returns home safe and sound. Today’s doleful situation in the army is one of the main topics discussed in the Armenian society.
Frequent death cases, violence, brutality, and non-obedience reign in the army of this South Caucasian country. The Armenian government is faced with protests and disagreements among people who are unwilling to do their military service.
“Since April 20 to May 14, eleven soldiers were killed in the Armenian army,” human rights activist Ruben Martirosyan told 1in.am.
He said that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is the main perpetrator of the murders in army, as he created the current system there.
“This system, the current prosecution and investigative systems, military police were created by him. The system that was designed to prevent murders works in exactly the opposite way. It is completely corrupt system and it ruins the army,” said Martirosyan.
“Distortion of the army begins with the military police, as soldiers are being kept in isolation cells, where they are beaten,” Martirosyan said. “They are forced to ‘confess’ serious crimes, while the real criminals are being concealed.”
He also noted that conscription of young people with health problems continues to be alarming – this suggests that corruption in the Armenian army has reached its peak.
“Another disturbing fact is that only the sons of poor families serve in the front line – there is no equality,” said Martirosyan, noting that all these problems have accumulated in the Armenian army for years.
“But the one who declares the conscription [Sargsyan] doesn’t lift a finger to change the situation, although he is well aware about the shameful situation in the army,” Martirosyan concluded. Armenian parents are afraid of sending their sons to army and therefore try to find any opportunity to keep their sons far from that horror. Many youth flee abroad so that not to serve in the army.