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The death of 18-year-old Aghasi Abrahamyan in the Yeghnikner Army Unit of the NKR MoD on August 26th again caused an outcry among the public and human rights’ activists.

The topic of murders of soldiers in the army shocked the social networks again. The Army without Murderers Initiative was created in Facebook and the citizens supporting the initiative are going to organize a protest at the Government Building tomorrow, at 11:00 a.m., against the murders in the army and, particularly, against the murder of Aghasi Abrahamyan.

There are already 815 people who have confirmed their participation in tomorrow’s protest.

“The issue would be stated very strictly and we should demand the resignation of the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief irrespective of their political preferences,” human rights activist, Artur Sakunts told Medialab.

18-year-old Aghasi Abrahamyan was not the only one killed in the army under suspicious circumstances. Just a few days earlier, on August 19th, a resident of Chambarak, 19-year-old Vardan Sevyan, died in the Goris Army Unit .  

There is information that there were  several signs of torture on the bodies, which bear witness of an international murder, although the official versions are different. 

Particularly, in the case of Aghasi Abrahamyan, who was taken to the military hospital in an unconscious state on August 26th, at approximately 8:30 p.m. and then he died an hour later.   It was initially reported that he had been poisoned, and then had fallen off the bed in the first-aid post and had died, although there were clear signs of violence on his body. 

Despite this, the investigation body had initiated a criminal case under the 14th point of the 2nd Part of Article 112 of the Criminal Code, “Infliction of willful bodily damage, which caused the death of the aggrieved by negligence.” Minister of Defense, Seyran Ohanyan spoke a few days after the tragedy. He stated that “the forensic medical expertise of Abrahamyan’s body showed that there was some influence on his body” and “no one hides it.”

“We have revealed the circle of people who could have influenced or beaten our soldier, and we are conducting serious activities within the framework of the criminal case, utilizing the  law enforcement agencies and the army unit commanders,” stated Seyran Ohanyan.  

The Minister of Defense informed that there are two individuals arrested in connection with the case: one officer and one private.

Gevorg Kostanyan, the RA Prosecutor General visited Karabakh on Sunday and stated that “Everything is being done to solve the tragedy registered in the Yeghnikner Army Unit.” 

Speaking of the incidents in the army, Seyran Ohanyan noticed that the number of losses was the lowest in the first half of 2011 ever since 2007.

However, human rights activist Artur Sakunts insists that if we just take the “raw statistical data, then there have really been less death cases this year,” but instead, this year’s cases stand out for “particular cruelty.’  

Among such cases are the murder of Gevorg Kotinyan in March and the murder of Aghasi Abrahamyan. Sakunts also noted that only 7 out of 19 registered deaths this year were caused by the violation of ceasefire; the other 12 were non-combat deaths. 

“The MoD has not conducted appropriate investigations of either those 7 cases or the other cases and has not informed the public of the progress of the investigations. And I am not even mentioning the fact that the behavior of the agency investigating non-combat deaths does not instill trust that a fair investigation is being conducted,” states the investigator. The activist also repeats that in their last year’s report, they had recorded 44 death cases, while the MoD had informed the US Department of State of 54 death cases(which were later placed in the report of the US Department of State). This, according to Sakunts, means that the MoD did not publicize any information regarding the other 10 cases.”

“Often times, when we ask for the names of the dead, they do not provide them, considering it confidential,” says Sakunts. The activist also wondered why the Ombudsman, Karen Andreasyan does not express his opinion about the abovementioned cases. 

“I demand that he express his opinion,” says Sakunts.

Another human rights activist, Mikayel Danielyan states that although he has not dealt with the case yet, it is obvious that the responsibility for such cases falls on the “supreme commander of the army.”

“They not only fail to improve the situation but also take advantage of it, as this way they hold the soldiers under control,” states Danielyan.

The activist also added that they would follow up with the case and would definitely address the murders in their report.

Source: www.medialab.am
Christine Khanumyan