Former Armenian Defense Minister: The current format of 25-day military training for reservists contains serious problems

ArmInfo. The current format of 25-day military training for reservists has problems and needs to be improved. Former Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan stated this in a conversation with journalists on September 1.

Furthermore, according to the former minister, these problems are serious. "This format of military training needs to be improved. It contains serious problems," Tonoyan stated.

Regarding tragic incidents in the army, he noted that in the past, dismissals have occurred following similar incidents. "For example, in 2019 or early 2020, the chief of military police was dismissed. District police chiefs who served various military units were also dismissed. "In the case of suicides in the army, I believe that more work needs to be done to eliminate the causes and be more cautious, rather than solving the problem through dismissal," the former Armenian Defense Minister noted.

However, Tonoyan did not link the increase in such cases to the abolition of the Spiritual Service of the Armenian Apostolic Church at the Ministry of Defense. "I greatly value the role of the Church in the Armenian Armed Forces, as well as the role of the Spiritual Service. But what is currently happening in the army—I have no explanation for it yet," the former minister stated.

Tonoyan also touched on the topic of border delimitation and demarcation. Regarding the statements about the transfer of Tigranashen to Azerbaijan as part of the border delimitation and demarcation, he noted that he could not offer any assessment. "I am glad that the border delimitation and demarcation process itself will begin. I cannot say anything else about this. But I don't think the question is being posed in such a way that Tigranashen should be handed over in exchange for Artsvashen. I believe there are many manipulative reactions surrounding this issue. I cannot reach such a conclusion within the framework of the statements made. We are talking about finding solutions through negotiations. Assessments will be made, and I hope the right decisions will be made. And exchanges or mutual concessions are the result of diplomatic work. It's difficult to say right now what will happen," Tonoyan concluded.

As a reminder, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at a parliamentary session on August 24 about reforms in the Armenian Armed Forces, noted that deaths in the Armenian army are related to the existence of peace. As the Armenian prime minister explained, "when there was no peace, a soldier was afraid to fall asleep because it could cost him his life, whereas in peace, he knows that this will not happen or the likelihood is very low. He also stated the need for radical steps to prevent such incidents." Meanwhile, opposition members are convinced that the tragic incidents in the army are connected to the abolition of the Spiritual Service of the Armenian Apostolic Church under the Ministry of Defense in the Armenian Armed Forces on February 1, 2026. Regarding the 25-day military training for reservists, opposition members expressed their belief that the authorities have turned them into a tool of punishment.

It should be added that at a briefing on August 20, Pashinyan stated that Artsvashen is Armenian territory, while Tigranashen (which the Armenian prime minister referred to by its Azerbaijani name, Kyarki - ed.), Barkhudarlu, Sofulu, and Upper Voskepar (for the latter, Pashinyan again used the Azerbaijani name, Yukhari-Askipara - ed.) are not.