Statistics of Fatalities in the RA Armed Forces and the NK Defense Army in the period of January-September, 2018
The monitoring implemented by Peace Dialogue NGO within the first nine months of 2018 have revealed 34 fatality cases in the RA Armed Forces and the NK Defense Army. Thirteen (13) cases have been registered in the territory of RA, and twenty-one (21) cases – in the territory of NK.
During the period of reporting among the overall 34 cases, two (2) of the fatalities were cases of murder, seven (7) fatalities were caused by the violation of ceasefire regime, eleven (11) were cases of fatal incidents, six (6) were cases of suicide, three (3) cases were the result of the violation of safety rules, and two (2) cases were caused by health problems. In 3 (three) of the cases registered within the mentioned period, the cause of the death of the military servicemen is still unknown.
The investigation on the case of the death of term military serviceman Levon Torosyan registered in May 2018, is directed to the hypothesis of “suicide”, whereas Peace Dialogue criminal expert Ruben Martirosyan is sure that what happened, in reality, is a murder. ”Not everything is totally clear” also in several other cases of murder and suicide, such as in the suicide cases of Captain Hmayak Hakobyan and Vanik Gevorgyan.
However, the fatalities presented below are in accordance with official messages on the causes of death.
Murder
Alek Karapetyan (15 April, NK)
On April 15, at approximately 7:15 p.m., soldier Alek Karapetyan (born in 1998) died of a mortal gunshot wound as a result of a fatal incident in one of the NK DA military units.
The urgent investigative actions initiated by the Third Garrison Investigative Department revealed the circumstances of the deadly gunshot wound received by the soldier. A criminal case was filed on the case of the murder.
According to preliminary data, on April 15, 2018, at approximately 7:15 while performing the duty in the watchtower, the soldier Alek Karapetyan received a gunshot wound in the right chest which caused his death on the way to the Military Hospital.
The Garrison Investigation Department filed a criminal case as per Article 104 (Part 1) of the RA Criminal Code. Based on the factual data obtained in the criminal case, the soldier received the wound as a result of a gunshot released by a fellow soldier during an argument between the two.
The investigation revealed the motive of the argument and the identity of the perpetrator, who was arrested.
Hovhannes Melkonyan (22 June, RA)
An investigation is underway in the 5th Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee to find out the circumstances of the death of a contract soldier, Hovhannes Melkonyan. The Investigative Committee reports about this.
According to preliminary data, the soldier received a mortal gunshot wound in the abdominal are late in the evening of June 22 as a result of a shot in a combat position.
According to the factual data obtained as a result of undertaken measures the shot was released by the deputy commander from the machine gun of another military serviceman in the same military unit.
The 5th Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department has initiated a criminal case as per Article 373 Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code. The deputy commander has been arrested.
The preliminary investigation is underway.
Violation of ceasefire regime
Vache Chilingaryan (7 January, NK)
The press service of the NK MoD reported that on January 7, 2018 at approximately 1:30 NK DA soldier Vache Chilingaryan (Born in 1998) received a fatal gunshot wound by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces while in a defense area of a military in the northeastern direction of the contact line.
An investigation is underway to determine the details of the incident.
The 19-year old deceased soldier Vache Chilingaryan was from village Shorzha, Gharkunik region. The head of the same village Suliko Shoushanyan said the following about the incident: “We were informed that first his friend was shot by the enemy, and Vache went to help him, however, he got shot too, and another friend of theirs went to help him, however, he also got shot. Now we have one victim and two wounded soldiers.”
Armtimes.Com tried to find out more information about the wounded soldiers from the RA MoD press secretary Artsrun Hovhannisyan, however, the latter did not answer the question.
“According to information, the two wounded soldiers received minor injuries, and their lives are not in danger.”-reported Armtimes.Com
Hayk Kalantaryan (7 February, NK)
A criminal case has been initiated in the second garrison investigation division on the murder case of compulsory military serviceman Hayk Kalantaryan who was killed by the adversary.
On February 7, 2018, at 1:50 p.m. a compulsory soldier Hayk Kalantaryan was wounded in the head as a result of the gunshot released from the Azerbaijani side in the direction of the N military unit. The soldier was taken to a military hospital where he died at 7:10 p.m.
Grigor Yeghoyan (22 February, NK)
On February 22 at around 09:40 in the defense area of one of the NK DA military units situated in the North-Eastern direction of Armenian-Azerbaijani border a Defense Army serviceman, Grigor Yeghoyan (born in 1998) was deadly wounded as a result of Azerbaijani fire.
He was a resident of Akhuryan village in the region of Akhuryan. Artsruni Igityan, Akhuryan village mayor, noted that Grigor had been drafted to the army in July 2016, and would have been demobilized in 5 months. He was the youngest child in the family after his sister and brother. The family resides in the Russian Federation; Grigor had come to Armenia for serving in the army.
Grigor Yeghoyan was posthumously awarded the “Combat Service” Medal.
Narek Harutyunyan (9 April, NK)
On April 9, 2018, at approximately 2:20 p.m., in the protection area of one of the NK DA military units located in the southern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani borderline, a DA soldier, Narek Harutyunyan (born in 1998) died of a mortal gunshot released by the Azerbaijani side.
An investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident is underway.
Vahagn Eloyan (10 June, NK)
On June 10, at approximately 6 p.m., in the protection area of one of the NK DA south-eastern garrisons, a soldier, Vahagn Eloyan, born in 1992, received a deadly gunshot wound released by the adversary army serviceman.
Haykaz Matevosyan (19 September, RA)
On September 19, 2018, at approximately 1:30 p.m., as a result of a shot released from the Azerbaijani side in the direction of the territory of the MoD N Military Unit, contractual military serviceman Haykaz Matevosyan received a mortal gunshot wound in the neck area.
Matevosyan died on the way to the Military Hospital.
Artsakh Hovsepyan (22 September, NK)
On September 22 at approximately 4:00 p.m. as a result of a shot released from the Azerbaijani side in the direction of the protection area of one of the NK DA Military Units, an NK DA soldier, Sergeant Artsakh Hovsepyan, received a mortal gunshot wound on the cheek section. Hovsepyan died on the way to the Military Hospital. The A criminal case has been instituted in the 1st Garrison Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department on the murder on the basis of national, racial or religious hatred or religious fanaticism.
Fatal Incidents
Pargev Saribekyan (2 June, RA)
A 19-year-old young man who was taken to hospital after a car accident on January 2 in Hrazdan, Kotayk region, died on January 6, without regaining consciousness.
The 19-year-old resident of Hrazdan, temporary soldier Pargev Saribekyan, had returned home for New Year. On January 2, 2018, while driving his Mercedes model car he went off the main road in Hrazdan and crashed into the tree.
Mher Ziroyan (6 June, NK)
An investigation is underway in the 3rd garrison investigative division of the Investigative Committee to find out the circumstances of Mher Ziroyan’s (Bor in 1992) death, reports the RA Investigative Committee.
“According to the preliminary data, contract soldier Senior Lieutenant Mher Ziroyan died of gas poisoning on January 6, 2018, at approximately 2:10 a.m. in the bathroom of his apartment.
Mher Ziroyan’s cousin Arthur Ziroyan informed that on the day of the incident Mher had just returned home from the combat posts. “He went down from the posts, took a shower so that he would leave for Armenia, but he got carbon monoxide poisoning and suffocated. He was at home together with some friends. They opened the door of the bathroom and found him dead.” -said Arthur Ziroyan.
Senior Lieutenant Mher Ziroyan was serving in Hadrut, NK. He had been an officer of the Armenian Armed Forces for 5 years and a commander of the company. Ziroyan participated in the April war and was wounded.
Edgar Yeremyan (15 March, NK)
On March 15 at approximately 5:30 p.m. Defense Army military serviceman Edgar Yeremyan (Born in 1999) died in a car accident during military training at one of the NK DA military units situated in the northern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
An investigation is underway to find out the details of the incident and a criminal case has been initiated.
Armen Harutyunyan (24 March, NK)
On March 24 at approximately 4:55 p.m. in the defense area of one of the NK DA military units situated in the northern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact line, an NK Defense Army military serviceman Armen Haroutyunyan (Born in 1991) died in an accident as a result of tree deracination caused by strong winds. An investigation is underway to find out the details of the accident.
Ruslan Manukyan (17 April, NK)
On April 17, in the protection area of one of the DA military units located in the northern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani borderline, NK Defense Army soldier Ruslan Manukyan (born in 1998) died of mortal injuries as a result of a mine explosion.
An investigation to disclose the details of the incident are underway.
Narek Chagharyan (29 May, RA)
On May 29, at approximately 12:30 a.m., a 28-year-old military serviceman, Narek Chagharyan died in a fatal car accident, which happened on the Vahan-Chambarak road, next to the RA MoD N Military Unit. His “Opel” (serial number 35 PQ 401) collided with a soil dike, rolled off the road and appeared on the side of the road.
The prepared materials may be transmitted to the MP of the RA MoD since it has been revealed that the driver served as a contractual military serviceman in one of the RA MoD Military Units.
Suren Ayvazyan (30 May, NK)
On May 30, at approximately 10:20 p.m, a contractual military serviceman of one of the NK DA Military Units located in the northern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani borderline, Suren Ayvazyan (born in 1992), died as a result of a car accident. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.
Armen Minasyan (29 July, RA)
On July 29, at approximately 10:40 p.m. on the Yerevan highway of Goris City, an accident was recorded between the vehicles driven by a 41-year-old Arman Poghosyan and 56-year-old Vahik Bakunts. Bakunts was taken to the hospital with corporal injuries, whereas his passenger, 29-year-old Armen Minasyan, died on the way to the hospital. He was a soldier in one of the RA MoD Military Units.
Armen Hovakimyan (5 August, NK)
NK DA soldiers Armen Hovakimyan (born in 1982) from Stepanakert and Aram Sargsyan (born in 1975) from Martakert drowned while swimming in the “Khachen” water reservoir, as reports the NK Emergency Situations Ministry’s press service.
On August 5 at 5:25 p.m. information on a case of drowning in the “Khachen” water reservoir and the need for rescuers’ help was received from Askeran Regional Crisis Management Center at Emergency Situations Department.
The rescuers of Askeran and Martakerd Emergency Situations Regional Departments and the operative group on duty for Special Rapid Response Unit of the Rescue Forces Department arrived to the site of the incident.
As a result of rescue operations, the bodies of Aram Sargsyan and Armen Hovakimyan were found and taken out of the “Khachen” water reservoir, approximately 800 m away from the site of drowning.
Artak Grigoryan (9 August, RA)
On August 9 a car accident was registered in the Lori Region. At approximately 7:50 a.m., an inhabitant of Aragatsotn Region Kuchak Village, 32-year-old Artak Grigoryan’s vehicle (Mercedes ML, car number 84 DD 777) went off the road in the Spitak serpentines of the Yerevan-Vanadzor highway, collided with iron barriers and rolling approximately 15 m off appeared in the gorge. A. Grigoryan died on site. He was serving in one of the RA MoD Military Units as a chief of auto-technical department; he was a major by rank.
Vazgen Khachatryan (3 September, NK)
On September 3, at approximately 2:45 p.m., an NK DA military serviceman, Vazgen Khachatryan (born in 1990) died in a car accident.
Suicide
Artur Gasparyan (4 May, RA)
An investigation is underway in the 6th Garrison Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee to determine the circumstances of the death of soldier Artur Gasparyan.
On May 4, 2018, at approximately 01:10 a.m., in one of the RA MoD military bases, soldier Artur Gasparyan’s body was found with a mortal gunshot wound in the mouth cavity.
The 6th Garrison Investigative Department has filed a criminal case on the incident as per Article 110 (Part 1) of the RA Criminal Code.
A forensic medical examination has been carried out; other necessary investigative and procedural actions are taken to determine the circumstances of the soldier’s death.
Levon Torosyan (6 May, RA)
On May 6, at approximately 7:30 a.m., in the combat post of one of the Military Units located in the southeastern direction of the RA borderline, the body of soldier Levon Torosyan (born in 1999, conscription of 2017-2, Armavir Military Commissariat) was found with a mortal gunshot wound in the head.
A criminal case has been filed on the hypothesis of driving to suicide, an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.
On 6 May, 2018, at approximately 7:25 a.m., in the territory of the military base of “Hakobasar” of the RA MoD Military Unit 21127, the body of Levon Torosyan, a soldier at the same military unit, was found with a mortal gunshot wound in his head. The entrance of the wound was in the bottom of the chin and the exit was on the top of the head. The 6th Garrison Investigative Department of the RA Investigation Department has filed the criminal case N90753018 on the hypothesis of a suicide. On May 07, 2018, the representative of the victim’s legal successor, the expert of Peace Dialogue NGO, Ruben Martirosyan took part in the examination of the body, which alongside the abovementioned gunshot wounds, also revealed a number of other wounds on the body:
- Hemorrhage in the soldier’s genitals,
- Scratches in the particular area of both elbows, which have the same sizes, the same date of origin, and may be claimed to have the same cause of origin (they are synchronous, similar injuries)
Based on the aforementioned, Ruben Martirosyan has come to a definite conclusion, that a deliberate murder has been committed. Before the murder, the perpetrator(s) had hit the victim on the genitals, as a result of which the victim was allegedly deprived of the ability to defend himself. It happened not long before the death since the hemorrhaged parts were of pink or light red coloring. Taking advantage of the victim’s helplessness, the perpetrator(s) held him by the arms and shot him. At the moment, without an additional investigation, the forensic doctor is not ready to state whether the soldier received the scratches on his arms before or after his death. The fact of the murder is confirmed in any case. If the victim received the injuries while he was still alive, this means that the soldier had made an attempt to free his arms and defend himself, in the course of which he received the abovementioned scratches due to the contact with the ground. Before considering the posthumous version, it must be noted that the death of the soldier happened immediately following the deadly gunshot on the head. If we consider that the scratches were received posthumously, then the murderer(s) must have moved the corpse to another place to hide it, since the soldier died immediately after the gunshot and there was no need to move the corpse.
Hamlet Grigoryan (20 May, NK)
On May 20, in the protection area of one of the military units located in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani borderline, an NK DA soldier Hamlet Grigoryan (born in 1999) received a mortal gunshot wound under uncertain circumstances. An investigation is underway in the 1st Garrison Investigation Department to find out the circumstances of the soldier’s death.
According to the RA Investigative Committee, on May 20, 2018, at approximately 11:00 a.m., in the protection area of one of the military units, the body of a soldier Hamlet Grigoryan was found with a penetrating mortal gunshot wound with its entrance under the chin and its exit on the top of the head.
The 1st Garrison Investigative Department has filed a criminal case as per Article 110 (Part 1) of the RA Criminal Code.
A forensic examination has been appointed, other necessary investigative and procedural actions are taken to determine all the circumstances and verify all the possible hypotheses of the soldier’s death.
Hmayak Hakobyan (26 May, RA)
According to preliminary data, on May 26, at approximately 01:00 p.m. in the bedroom of a Communication Military Unit in Yerevan, Captain Hmayak Hakobyan’s body was found with a penetrating mortal gunshot wound in the chest. A death note was also found on the site of the incident.
The necessary investigative and processual actions are being taken to determine the circumstances of the death of the military serviceman.
Karen Hovhannisyan (29 August, RA)
An investigation is underway in the 9th Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department to determine the circumstances of the death of Senior Lieutenant Karen Hovhannisyan.
On August 29, 2018, at approximately 8:15 a.m., in the duty part of the RA MoD N Military Unit, the body of senior Lieutenant Karen Hovhannisyan was found with a mortal gunshot wound on the chin and top of the head.
An investigation was carried out on the site of the incident. A criminal case has been initiated in the 9th Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department as per Article 110 Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code.
A preliminary investigation is underway. All the necessary investigative actions are being undertaken to ensure a comprehensive, objective and complete investigation of the circumstances of the soldier’s death.
Vanik Gevorgyan (2 September, NK)
On September 2, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Vanik Gevorgyan (born in 1996) died in one of the Military Units located in the northern direction of the NK DA. The NK MoD informed about the incident. According to the official source, the circumstances of the case have not yet been clarified: the preliminary version is suicide.
The 22-year-old Vanik Gevorgyan, who served in the NK DA for already a year, was killed in mysterious circumstances in one of the military units called “Ara Ler” in Artsakh.
The parents of the soldier do not believe the preliminary hypothesis of suicide. The body was found at night on September 2 inside a half-destroyed building. The young man had a rope around his neck. Typical injuries for strangling have been found on his neck. However, the body was found in an unnatural position for a suicide with hanging with his legs on the ground.
Violation of Safety Rules
Hovsep Grigoryan (27 January, NK)
The second garrison investigation division carries out all necessary investigative actions to find out the circumstances of Private Hovsep Grigoryan’s death.
On January 27, 2018, at approximately 16: 25-16: 45, a soldier of one of the military unit of the NK Defense Army, Hovsep Grigoryan, received a deadly gunshot wound in the forehead. According to preliminary data, Hovsep Grigoryan suffered fatal gunshot injuries as a result of the breach of rules for handling weapons by another compulsory military serviceman.
A criminal case has been initiated in the third garrison investigation department under Article 373, Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code. As a result of measures undertaken, the serviceman was arrested.
The investigation is underway. All necessary investigative actions are underway to ensure a comprehensive, objective and full investigation of all circumstances of the serviceman’s death.
Zhora Petrosyan (24 July, RA)
An investigation is underway in the 8th Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department to determine the circumstances of the death of the soldier Zhora Petrosyan.
On July 24 a call was received in the Garrison Investigation Department informing that on the same day at approximately 3:00 p.m. in the combat position of N Military Unit of the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Armenia a military serviceman, Zhora Petrosyan, received a mortal gunshot wound on his facial area. The investigative group immediately went for the scene. According to the preliminary data, the gunshot was caused as a result of the breach of the rules of handling arms by the military serviceman.
The 8th Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department has initiated a criminal case as per Article 373 Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code, for violating the rules of arms and ammunition, which negligently caused the death of a human being. The military serviceman, who accidentally caused the gunshot, Karen Adamyan, has been arrested.
The family members of Petrosyan do not believe in the hypothesis of the negligence of military service; they claim that that the leadership of the military unit is doing everything to save the senior official from responsibility.
Aghasi Mkrtchyan (26 September, NK)
On September 26, at approximately 8:10 p.m., in the protection area of one of the MoD Military Units, soldier Aghasi Mkrtchyan (born in 1999) received a mortal gunshot wound under unclear circumstances.
The RA Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department has filed a criminal case on the basis of the soldier’s murder.
As informed by the RA Investigative Committee to the website NEWS.am, on September 26, at approximately 8:10 p.m., in the protection area of one MoD N Military Units, term serviceman Junior Sergeant Aghasi Mkrtchyan received a mortal gunshot wound and was taken to the military hospital, where at approximately 9:20 he was pronounced legally dead.
A criminal case has been initiated as per Article 365 Part 3, a preliminary investigation is underway.
Necessary investigative actions are being undertaken to ensure a comprehensive, objective and full investigation of the death circumstances of the soldier.
Health Issues
Hayk Hakobyan (8 February, NK)
NK Defense army soldier Hayk Hakobyan (Born in 1999) died in the Stepanakert military hospital on February 8, 2018, at approximately 2:15 p.m. because of illness ( preliminary diagnosis is fulminant meningococcemia), NK Defense Ministry press service reports.
An investigation is underway to find out the details of the case.
Armen Atanesyan (29 June, NK)
On June 29, at approximately 8:30, a contractual soldier of one of the DA central military units, Armen Atanesyan (born in 1973) died as a result of an illness (the preliminary diagnosis being gallbladder disease, liver failure).
An investigation is underway to reveal the circumstances of the soldier’s death.
The causes and circumstances of three (3) other fatality cases registered during the year have not been clarified in the official outlets.
Harutyun Khachatryan (16 January, NK)
On January 16, 2018, at approximately 1:05 a.m. soldier Harutyun Khachatryan (Born in 1998) of the military unit located in the northern direction of the Defense Army died of a mortal gunshot wound released under unknown circumstances.
An investigation is underway to find out the circumstances of the case.
Stepan Stepanyan (12 February, RA)
A criminal case on the death of Private Stepan Stepanyan has been filed in the 4h Garrison Investigative Division of the RA General Military Investigative Department. A report was received on February 12, 2018, stating that the soldier Stepan Stepanyan died at the reanimation department of the Central Clinical Military Hospital of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia. On the same day, a forensic examination was appointed by the 4h Garrison Investigation Department of the RA General Military Investigative Department to find out the causes of the death of the serviceman. According to preliminary data, soldier Stepan Stepanyan had been granted a leave from February 1 to 10, 2018, which he spent in the Garni village of Kotayk Region. On February 10 the military serviceman left Garni village and accompanied by his uncle in his car went to Yerevan Northern bus station to leave for Ijevan to continue his military service. On the road to the bus station at around 12:30 p.m., he felt bad but did not refuse to go back to his service. At around 23:15 on the same day, Stepan Stepanyan turned to the medical station of the military unit, after which he was transported to Ijevan Medical Center to receive medical aid. On the next day, February 11, at 07:30 a.m., Stepan Stepanyan was transported in an unconscious condition to MOD Central Military Hospital, where he died at 5:30 p.m. on February 12.
The results of the forensic examination have not been received yet. According to the body autopsy, the forensic doctors recorded cerebral palsy with the syndrome of cerebral pressure as the immediate pathological condition that led to death. The cause of death was pronounced “coma of unknown origin”.
On February 22 based on the materials prepared on the case of the death of the military serviceman, a criminal case was filed in the 4h Garrison Investigation Division of the RA General Military Investigative Department under Article 130 (Part2) of the RA Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation is underway. All the necessary investigation measures for the comprehensive, objective and full investigation of all circumstances of the death of the serviceman are underway.
Martin Khachatryan (22 May, RA)
An investigation is underway in the 8th Garrison Investigative Department of the RA Investigation Committee to find out the circumstances of the death of the soldier Private Martin Khachatryan.
On May 22, 2018, at approximately 01:35 p.m. in the combat post of one of the RA MoD Military Units, a soldier Private Martin Khachatyan’s body was found with a penetrating mortal gunshot wound in the abdominal area.
A forensic examination has been appointed, other necessary investigative and procedural actions are taken to determine all the circumstances and verify all the possible hypotheses of the soldier’s death.
Posted 15 October, 2018
