Brother of Diseased Cadet, “First of all I’m curious to know what happened there in reality”
06:31, June 10, 2013 | News | Right to Fair Trial, Right to Life, Rights of Soldiers/Recruits | Armed Forces
An incident occurred at RA MoD Military Academy named after Vazgen Sargsyan during the post shift on June 1. Cadet, guard Armen Melkumyan fired at Sipan Movsisyan, cadet of the same academy, resulting in the latter’s death.
Sipan resided in 3rd district of Vanadzor in a cabin house. Their family was comprised of 3 brothers living with their mother and grandmother. S. Movsisyan’s brother Sevak currently serves in Nagorno Karabakh and is expected to be demobilized in November. By Sevak’s words, Sipan was on the post shift and oversaw the order. “I am not fully aware what exactly happened, but everything will clear out. A, Melkumyan has been arrested.”
A few days ago a number of strange cases were recorded by journalists and human rights defenders, who had visited the cadet’s place. As HCA Vanadzor Coordinator of Peacebuilding Department Armine Sadikyan states, who in person visited their cabin, she had the impression that strong control was being carried out not to let out the information.
“During all that time we had a feeling of being under control, we were the center of everyone’s attention, every step was being controlled. After staying there for half an hour we left. The city’s high-rank officials, including the Mayor, municipality staff, spiritual leader of Gugark Diocese, Military commissariat officials and etc. were also there. When I came out, a woman was approaching and I made an attempt to talk and she agreed. She started speaking of the diseased. She had hardly opened her mouth when 3 cadets quickly approached and took the woman away bringing up an excuse that it wasn’t the right time and the proper place to talk with the woman.”
According to Armine Sadikyan, there were many death cases from Lori regions in the Armed Forces, but there has never been such attention and such treatment.
“It is pleasing that the state officials pay attention to such things, but when it acquires an optional nature, it becomes suspicious”, notes Armine Sadikyan adding that Sipan lived in very simple and poor social conditions. “Pursuant to rumors, the cadet was a very peaceful person. I find it difficult to find a reason why he was treated like that.”
Referring to the fact of not providing information to the human rights defenders and journalists, the brother of diseased cadet says, “First of all I’m curious to know what happened there in reality”
To the question if the case could have occurred by the fault of the staff of officers and commanders, Seval replies, “There was an argument between two servicemen and in my opinion, the staff of officers and commanders isn’t to blame, there was a variance and a gunshot. The commander and other officers came to express their condolences.”
During the last 3-4 years of school Sipan Movsisyan attended “Evrika” advanced school named after Nazik Grigoryan specializing in Mathematics and natural science. By the words of school principal Armen Tsaturyan, by his nature, Sipan Movsisyan was a calm, balanced, well-bred child. “I don’t remember well, but I assume he had average abilities. He was very honest in friendship, was naive and friendly, educated and respectful to teachers. Everyone always spoke very good of him.” As a tribute to the school former student Sipan Movsisyan, the photo of the diseased cadet and fresh flowers along with a poster saying “I am one handful of your soil, I am one germ of your field, I am one strike of your arm” were put up on the second floor by the initiative of the school principal.