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Interview with Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor’s Peacebuilding department coordinator Armine Sadikyan

-What could be but is not done to improve the state of Armenia’s army?

-First of all, the improvements in the Armed Forces, as in all spheres, also require displaying political will, but  if there is no political will, then we can make up numerous excuses by blaming all the violations on the society, soldiers and officers claiming them to be “naughty” and bringing in bad manners from their families into the army. It is unacceptable to me, especially when the Minister of Defense issues such a statement.   The so-called “improvements” are not at all in support of recruits and servicemen, for instance, the very recent initiative of making an amendment to the RA law on military obligation, whereby, they want to introduce the pledging institute. Its only goal is to recruit the army at any expense. The issue of recruitment is also resolved through conscription of young men with health issues. Certainly, this finds its faults during military service, when the servicemen’s proper medical care is not provided leading to graver violations, even including death cases. The assurance that those illnesses attack suddenly are not so much grounded, although such cases might not be excluded. But a question rises how those young men happen to develop such illnesses during military service? The issue is not absolutely that certain diseases do not have sudden onset, but the fact that various factors and insufficient conditions can entail the onset of those illnesses. These indexes already hint on the state of medical service quality and medical care in the army.

-Over what issues do the parents of servicemen turn to your organization?

-In 2013 over 30 recruits or their relatives turned to the organization and the vast majority of them came up with questions over health issue. Examining the documents submitted by them, I infer that indeed, the defense department leads a policy of recruiting the army at any expense.  We have such cases, when a person who was twice issued a deferment for treatment purposes, is redrafted to the army without any health state improvements.  We have many cases when a young man is conscripted to the army in combination of several illnesses, which is full of risks. The capacities and chances of the very conscript to service for the country’s defense are not adequately assessed, since the sick young man cannot ensure full defense of his county.

-What can you say about army beat-ups and relations between the officers and soldiers? 

– A vivid example of improper provision of medical care is unfortunately the case related to Mher Khlghatyan recently subjected to severe beatings. By the way, the Minister of Defense has already expressed his preconceived opinion regarding it by stating that no signs of violence were detected on Mher Khlghatyan’s body, whereas, the soldier’s relatives claim that there are traces of violence on his body, including burns. The issues are numerous and the violence and beat-ups will continue until the breaches of statutory relations stop, which cause privates to become a target.

-Is the law on military service sufficient for the soldier in terms of protecting his rights?

-In case of disagreement with the decision of the Central Medical Committee on fitness for military service during the call-up, the recruit is denied the chance to appeal that decision and as a result, he is forced to receive a note and be drafted to the army.  It is necessary to ensure such a procedure allowing the recruit to appeal the decisions. We have repeatedly raised the issue of providing the health state examination acts to the conscripts irrespective of such demands, which is not being fulfilled until present.

-Why are so many victims recorded during peace?

-As compared with the previous year, the rate of death cases in 2013 is perhaps lower, but the situation remains concerning. In 2013, 31 death cases were recorded in the army, 5 out of which took place as a result of violation of cease-fire regime, 4 due to health issues, while 8 of them were termed as a suicide. In the remaining cases the soldiers were either killed by their fellows or due accidents or other reasons. During the recent years, the term of “suicide” forms a majority although murders stand in the back of them. For instance, in case of Hayk Kaleyan, the “suicide” was inflicted by three shots, which is impossible. Besides, as a general rule, the preliminary investigation of death cases is not so trustworthy and objective for the revelation of actual circumstances, since at least in the criminal cases our organization is involved  show that the officers’ conduct, inactivity or abuse of official power are not adequately assessed. The reasons of soldier’s suicides do not serve a subject for discussion, it is not discussed that most probably the suicides were committed due to humiliation of dignity. The corruption and absence of an oversight mechanism in the army is of permanent concern. The resource expenditures are not at all subject to oversight.  I strongly believe that the protection of the county must be ensured through an army, where every soldier is respected, where degradation of soldier’s dignity does not exist, where only health young men serve. Only in this case we may have a battle-ready army.

Source: http://www.asparez.am/news-hy/banak_armine_sadikyan-hy/