2 military servicemen with health problems were exempted from military service with the help of HCA Vanadzor
16:42, January 17, 2017 | News, Own news | Rights of Soldiers/Recruits | Armed Forces
Over a year ago, E. K. from Vanadzor turned to Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor stating that his son military serviceman G. K., despite of a number of diseases incompatible with military service, was declared fit for service by the Central Medical Commission’s decision and then started his service.
Due to his complaints, G. K. underwent regular medical examinations and received different diagnoses incompatible with military service. Moreover, at the time of his conscription, he suffered fever and even did not get the necessary vaccinations because of it, but no measures were taken to reveal the real causes of the fever in spite of the fact that according to the RA Defense Minister’s Order № 410-13, in such conditions conscripts should receive a 6-month deferment.
In response to HCA Vanadzor’s letters on reviewing the issue of the conscript’s fitness for military service submitted to the RA Military of Defense since September 2015, the Ministry first stated that the military serviceman should attend the upcoming session of the Central Military and Medical Commission and then noted that the medical examinations were in progress. Moreover, the second reply was received only over a month after the Organization sent its second letter on the issue.
The Central Military and Medical Commission continuously delayed the serviceman’s treatment and instructed to exempt him from hard physical work; nevertheless, after the medical examinations, he was declared fit for military service under Articles 30 C, 28 B, 48 D of the RA Defense Minister’s Order № 410.
And finally, on December 19, 2016, the Central Military and Medical Commission decided that “G. K. is not fit for military service in peacetime and is fit for limited service in wartime according to Articles 11 B, 20 C, 28 B, 48 D, 26 D, 7 C, 10 C of the RA Defense Minister’s Order № 410. Interestingly, the decision clearly states that the disease was acquired during the military service. Whereas, none of the expert examinations lasting for over a year resulted in such a decision and the final decision on his fitness for military service was delayed for unclear reasons.
As for another serviceman K. H. doing his service at the NKR Defense Army, on October 5, 2016, his mother Z. E. from Alaverdi town turned to protect his rights.
She said that her son was drafted in the armed forces with health problems and only 3 days after the call-up was taken to the military hospital and then needed regular medical care in the course of his service and was even taken to the intensive care unit, despite constant assurances that K.H. received proper medical care.
According to the parent, the said situation has negatively affected her son’s physical as well as psychological and mental state.
In response to HCA Vanadzor’s 3 letters sent to the RA Defense Ministry on providing K.H. with a medical examination and exempting him from military service as necessary, the Ministry first stated that the serviceman would undergo an in-depth medical examination and according to the parent, in 2017, about 10 months after conscription, it was decided to exempt him from military service.