ArmInfo. The problems of the army begin in a kindergarten, school and university, member of the Armenian parliament from My Step faction Kristine Poghosyan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
"The current situation is the result of the problems of our society. I'm not afraid of this word - this is a civilizational problem. And everyone should resolve this problem. The army, in turn, must work with the draftee, work with the soldier, the soldier must be perceived by the officer as a son. And, of course , the perpetrators of all the tragic incidents that happened in the past and in recent period must be severely punished. They must be punished, and this punishment will also be a warning to other potential criminals, "she said.
Since the beginning of the year, 13 servicemen have died in peaceful conditions in the Armenian Armed Forces. Four soldiers died in an accident, another four had disease, five cases are under investigation. Criminal proceedings have been instituted on the fact of the death of three servicemen under the article "bringing to suicide". Meanwhile, according to the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, in 2019, a historical minimum was recorded in terms of the number of losses in the army.
Commenting on the recent resignations of senior army officials, Poghosyan noted that among the officers dismissed from the army were people who should have been removed from their posts a few months ago. In this light, she singled out the Chief of the Military Police of Armenia, while avoiding the details.
At the same time, the parliamentarian has no information about the decision on the resignation of the Chief of the Main Staff of the Armed Forces Artak Davtyan and Minister of Defense David Tonoyan. According to her, the Minister of Defense is taking all possible and necessary steps to strengthen the army and ensure security during the course of service. And in this matter, the parliament, according to her estimates, fully supports it.
Yesterday by the decree of Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan, Lieutenant General Karen Abrahamyan was relieved of his post as Minister of Defense - Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army. By another decree of the president, Major General Jalal Harutyunyan was relieved of his post of chief of staff and was appointed minister of defense, commander of the republic's army of defense.
On February 19, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian signed a decree on dismissal of the head of the Military Police, Artur Baghdasaryan, and the head of the Department of moral and psychological support of the Armed Forces of Armenia Aleksan Aleksanyan.