Demise of troopers in Armenia
The Vanadzor workplace of the Helsinki Residents’ Meeting mentioned in its annual report that in 2022, 54 deaths of army personnel have been registered within the Armenian armed forces, which is twelve fewer than in 2021. Nonetheless, for various causes, the group didn’t embrace on this determine those that died in the course of the clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on September 13-14.
JAMnews added up the figures from the Helsinki Residents’ Meeting and the official numbers of these killed within the September clashes, and the determine got here to 275 individuals.
Thus, the info for 2022 seems unprecedented when it comes to the variety of troopers killed in peacetime.
In response to official knowledge, because of large-scale hostilities in September 2022, 224 Armenians have been killed three of whom have been civilians. In response to the investigative committee, three extra troopers are thought of lacking. Talking on the 77th session of the UN Basic Meeting, Pashinyan certified these occasions as “an unprovoked aggression by Azerbaijan towards the sovereign territory of Armenia.”
After the top of hostilities, Azerbaijan returned seventeen prisoners and the our bodies of 156 lifeless troopers to Armenia.
Causes of army deaths
In response to the HCA Vanadzor workplace, the causes of dying of troopers in non-combat conditions have been ceasefire violations, well being issues, accidents, and deliberate killings. The group summarized the info on the variety of incidents:
- well being issues – 17 instances,
- accident – 17,
- violation of the ceasefire – 14,
- suicide – 6,
- homicide – 6: of them 2 – intentional, 1 case of violation of the principles for using weapons, 1 – homicide underneath unclear circumstances, 2 instances of violation of the principles of army service,
- accidents – 2,
- violation of the principles for dealing with weapons, ammunition, harmful substances – 1,
- mine explosion – 1.
The newest trigger dying of troopers not in fight conditions was a hearth in a army unit within the Gegharkunik area on January 18, the place fifteen males died.
Most of these killed in non-combat situations are conscript troopers
In 2022, the vast majority of suicides and homicides – ten out of twelve instances – have been on lively responsibility.
The HCA Vanadzor workplace believes that such figures “point out the presence of hazing within the armed forces and the inadequate stage of psychological work and a focus to personnel in army items.”
Firstly of 2020, JAMnews and the Armenian human rights group “Peace Dialogue” ready a evaluation “On the causes of the dying of troopers within the Armenian military and the investigation of those instances.”
“42% of instances weren’t reported”
The Vanadzor workplace of the Helsinki Residents’ Meeting reported that 24 instances of army deaths weren’t publicly reported in any respect, and solely thirty incidents have been formally disseminated.
Which implies that 42% of the instances have been hidden from public consideration.
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Analysis: “Reforms within the military are ineffective”
The group’s specialists concluded that the variety of incidents and the causes of dying point out “the ineffectiveness of reforms within the armed forces.” They recall that the priorities of those reforms underneath the federal government program for 2021-2026 are:
- Rising the effectiveness of democratic and civilian management over the armed forces,
- Strengthening self-discipline within the Armed Forces,
- Safety of human rights within the armed forces,
- Most effort to eradicate instances of hazing.
The human rights group believes that from the viewpoint of defending the rights of army personnel and guaranteeing self-discipline, “it’s of decisive and important significance” is to enhance the standard of army schooling.
The Vanadzor workplace of the Helsinki Residents’ Data Meeting additionally included in its report details about the deaths of ten troopers of the unrecognized NKR in 2022.
Demise of servicemen in Armenia
