MOD: Armenian Armed Forces leadership  working hard to counter  infiltration of criminal subculture within military

ArmInfo.The leadership of the Armenian Armed Forces is actively working to combat the infiltration of criminal subcultures within the military, according to Lieutenant General Edward Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of  the Armenian Armed Forces. Speaking to reporters on June 9, Asryan acknowledged that while such incidents persist, targeted countermeasures are underway.

According to Asryan, specific measures are being implemented,  including the integration of psychologists, to address the issue.  While completely eradicating the behavior remains a challenge, the  Chief of the General Staff emphasized that these efforts are yielding  positive results. Notably, the Armed Forces recorded a significant  decrease in cases tied to criminal subcultures and hazing  (non-statutory relations) over the past year.

"Every loss—regardless of the serviceman's rank, whether a private,  officer, or contract soldier—is deeply regrettable, and we are  undertaking rigorous work in this area," Asryan stated. He further  noted that individuals carrying this subculture can be found across  virtually all categories of personnel. To formalize these efforts,  the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia has officially  declared 2026 as the "Year of Combating Criminal Subculture in the  Armed Forces."