Prime Minister Initiates Crackdown on Military Hazing Following Two Soldier Deaths

Armenia's Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has taken a decisive stance against "dedovshchina" (hazing) within the military, ordering stringent measures to prevent such practices and other violations of conduct among Armed Forces members.

During his visit to the Defense Ministry headquarters on Wednesday, Prime Minister Pashinyan issued clear directives to military officials in response to recent tragic events. His orders came on the heels of two soldiers' deaths on January 9, prompting urgent action to address the alarming situation.

One of the fatalities involved a soldier allegedly shot dead by a comrade at a military base. The other soldier reportedly died by suicide, suspected to be a consequence of bullying. In light of these distressing incidents, the Prime Minister directed military authorities to curb hazing practices and ensure strict adherence to the code of conduct among servicemen.

Andranik Kocharyan, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Affairs Committee, emphasized the need to identify those responsible for the tragic events rather than immediately dismissing Minister Suren Papikyan. Kocharyan stressed the importance of comprehensive investigations to ascertain the causes behind the reported suicide and murder within the army.

The incidents in question occurred on January 9, involving contract soldier Karen Arayik Karapetyan, found deceased from a gunshot wound in a guard station's combat position. Another soldier, senior lieutenant Mikael Samveli Danielyan, was also discovered dead with a gunshot wound in a separate incident later the same day.

Armenia mourns the loss of these two servicemen, prompting investigations by both the Ministry of Defense and the Investigative Committee of Armenia. The inquiry aims to shed light on the circumstances surrounding these tragic incidents, one of which allegedly involved a conscript shooting a fellow soldier.