ArmInfo. Following the relevant order of the Prime Minister, control in the Armenian army was tightened. On March 3, Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Gabriel Balayan stated this in an interview with reporters.
He noted that the army is under quite strict control. "So, for example, yesterday a statement was spread that checks were made in the army and prohibited items were seized (mainly smartphones - Ed. note)," Balayan emphasized.
The Deputy Minister of Defense also touched on the increase in peacetime deaths in the army. In connection with this issue, the latter noted that all the actions shoule be taken within the law. "If we intend to build a rule of law, then all actions should be exclusively within the law. We have Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes and any punishment should be within the framework of laws. The Ministry of Defense has the right to punish only in a disciplinary manner," Balayan explained.
He also noted that he did not agree with the comments that have recently been made to the leadership of the army. "Of course, we also have flaws. But I do not agree with the point of view that everyone around is good, and officers and generals are bad. Our public has something to learn from our generals," the deputy minister stressed, noting that many victories were achieved precisely thanks to the officers of the RA Armed Forces.
As for the resignations in the army, Balayan said that this is a natural process and the change of personnel periodically occurs. As for media reports that the former chief of the military police, Artur Baghdasaryan, was corrupt, the deputy minister said that a trial was scheduled, but Baghdasaryan's actions did not reveal the corpus delicti.
It should be noted that on February 17, the head of the Cabinet of Ministers of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a working meeting in which the heads of law enforcement agencies took part. Pashinyan said that one of the main goals is to solve the problem of criminal subculture in the army, as well as discipline.
To recall, on February 14 it became known about the death of the 13th soldier who died in the Armenian army since the beginning of the year. Almost all of these deaths occurred under unclear circumstances.