Statistics of Fatalities in the RA Armed Forces and the NK Defense Army in 2018
Peace Dialogue NGO managed to collect data on forty-five (45) cases of fatalities in the Armenian Armed Forces from the RA MoD and NK DA official messages and other open sources. Twenty-two (22) of the mentioned cases took place is the RA, and twenty-three (23) of them – in NK.
Seven (7) of the fatalities are cases of ceasefire regime violation, two (2) are cases of murder, nineteen (19) are cases of fatal incidents, nine (9) of them are cases of suicide, three (3) cases were the result of negligence, two (2) result from health issues, and the causes of three (3) cases have not been revealed yet.
The fatality cases according to their causes are presented below.
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 the village of Shorzha, Gharkunik region.
Hayk Kalantaryan (7 February, NK)
On February 7, 2018, at 1:50 p.m. a compulsory soldier Hayk Kalantaryan was wounded in the head as a result of the enemy’s gunshot in the direction of the N military unit. The soldier was taken to a military hospital where he died at 7:10p.m.
The second garrison investigation department has initiated a criminal case on the basis of national, racial or religious hatred or religious fanaticism. The investigation is underway.
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 fire from the Azerbaijani side.
He was a resident of Akhuryan village in the region of Akhuryan. Artsruni Igityan, Akhuryan village mayor, noted that Grigor had been drafted to 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 with 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 is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.
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.
An investigation is underway to determine the details of the incident.
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 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, Junior Sergeant Haykaz Matevosyan received a mortal gunshot wound in the neck area.
Matevosyan died on the way to the Military Hospital.
The First Garrison Investigative Department has initiated a criminal case on the basis of national, racial or religious hatred or religious fanaticism.
The preliminary investigation is underway.
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 later.
An external examination of the corpse, a forensic study and confiscations have been carried out, a number of individuals have been interrogated. The preliminary investigation is underway.
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.
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 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, 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.
A criminal case has been filed on the hypothesis of driving to suicide, an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.
The expert of Peace Dialogue NGO, Ruben Martirosyan, is involved as the representative of the victim’s legal successor. Based on the observation of the case materials, the victim side is convinced that a deliberate murder has been committed. However, already the fourth investigative body involved in the investigation of the case still pursues the investigation with the hypothesis of driving to suicide.
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 wounds 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.
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. Whereas the body was found in an unnatural position for a suicide with hanging with his feet on the ground.
Karen Hovhannisyan (29 August, RA)
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 comprehensive, objective and complete investigation of the circumstances of the soldier’s death.
Gevorg Haroyan (1 October, NK)
On October 1, at approximately 10:50 a.m. in one of the Military Units located in the South-Eastern direction of the NK DA, Gevorg Haroyan (born in 1997), a military serviceman in the NK Defense Army, received severe gunshot wounds under unidentified circumstances.
The wounded soldier was taken to the Military Hospital, where he was pronounced legally dead at 3:05 p.m.
The First Garrison Investigative department filed a criminal case on the death of private Gevorg Haroyan as per Article 110 Part 1of the RA Criminal Code. Due to the manifold investigation, significant data were acquired on the cases of applying violence towards G. Haroyan by his peer soldiers regarding the service duties.
Juxtaposing the respective sufficient proofs, a Junior Sergeant was charged as per Article 358 Part 4 of the RA Criminal Code and detention was applied as a preventive measure against him.
On the basis of negligence by the authorities, as well as cases of insulting Private Haroyan for the quality of his service duties, the Captain Commander was charged with responsibility as per Article 375 Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code and Article 360 Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code. Detention was applied as a preventative measure against him.
The preliminary investigation on the case is underway.
The relatives of Gevorg Harutyunyan, however, insist that the incident is a case of a murder. According to them, Gevorg Harutyunyan had been violently beaten before the murder. His mother says that she was informed from Martuni Prosecutor’s Office that the soldier had been shot from 2 meter’s distance. “In that case, how can he have shot and killed himself?”, questions Armine Haroyan, the victim’s mother.
Excluding suicide or self-injury, the Haroyans demand the disclosure of the case.
Aristakes Azatyan (6 November, NK )
On 6 November 2018, approximately between 8:20 and 8:30 a.m. soldier of Military Unit N, private Aristakes Azatyan caused himself a mortal gunshot wound under the chin area with his AK-74 machine gun while located 70 meters away from the control point of the military unit.
A case has been initiated in the first Garrison Investigative Department as per Article 110 Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation is underway.
Gor Sargsyan (1 December, RA)
On 1 December 2018 at approximately 8:55 p.m., contractual military serviceman Gor Sargsyan was found in the combat position of the protection area of N military unit with a gunshot wound in the chest area. The serviceman died on the way to Ararat City MC.
The 8th Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee filed a criminal case as per Article 110 Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. A preliminary investigation is underway.
Fatal Incident
Mher Ziroyan (6 January, NK)
Pargev Saribekyan (6 January, RA)
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, a NK Defense Army military serviceman Armen Haroutyunyan (Born in 1999) 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, NK )
Suren Ayvazyan (30 May, NK )
Armen Minasyan (29 July, RA)
Armen Hovakimyan (5 August, NK)
Artak Grigoryan (9 August, RA)
Vazgen Khachatryan (3 September, NK)
Hayrapet Nairyan (7 November, RA)
The Defense Ministry Spokesman Atrsrun Hovhannisyan published information on the victims of the vehicle accident which happened on 7 November 2018 on the Goris-Kubatly highway.
For soldiers died in the accident:
Hayrapet Nairyan, born in 1998, 2017/1 conscription, Erebuni MC,
Hrant Gasparyan, born in 1998, 2017/1 conscription, Shahumyan MC,
Edgar Hunanyan, born in 1998, 2017/1 conscription, Hrazdan MC,
Davit Melkonyan, born in 1998, 2017/1 conscription, Talin MC.
M. H. (27 November, RA )
The contractual military serviceman was found dead under the avalanche in the vicinities of Village Kokhakn in Gegharkunik Region. On November 27 at 2:58 p.m. the “911” service was informed that a citizen of the village of Kakhakn, Gegharkunik Region, M. H. (born in 1994) remained under the avalanche and the rescuers’ help was needed. A brigade from the MES Rescue Squadron left for the scene. The search and rescue operations were interrupted due to darkness and bad weather conditions. On November 28 at 6:55 a.m. two brigades (10 rescuers) from the MES Special Rescue Operations Rescue Squadron arrived at the scene to conclude the search and rescue operations.
Armen Babayan (4 December, RA)
The RA MoD informed that on December 4 at approximately 10:20 a.m., the connection had been lost with the RA AF SU-25 combat aircraft which made training flights in accordance with the daily combat readiness plan.
According to the official statement, the airplane took the flight root at 10:06 a.m. from Gyumri Airport.
Later the site of the accident was revealed. Lieutenant Colonel Armen Babayan and Major Movses Manukyan died as a result of the accident.
Hayk Karamyan (5 December, RA)
On December 5 at approximately 5:30 p.m., in the protection area of N military unit, five contractual military servicemen remained under the avalanche. Due to the search and rescue operations, four of the military servicemen were successful detected and taken out of the avalanche on the same day. Their health condition is considered satisfactory.
On 6 December at approximately 2 p.m., the body of Hayk Karamyan (born in 1995, on military service since 2016, Sisian Military Commissariat) was found under the avalanche.
An investigation is underway to reveal the details of the incident.
Violation of safety rules
Hovsep Grigoryan(27 January, NK)
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 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.
Zhora Petrosyan (24 July, RA)
n 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 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 of Petrosyan do not believe in the hypothesis of negligence of military service; they claim that the 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.
On September 27 the Davit Babayan, the press secretary for President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan, released an official message stating that the soldier died while protecting the homeland, shortly after which the victim was presented with a medal for “Combat Service” by President Bako Sahakyan.
A few days later the Investigative Committee found out that the soldier was killed by a military serviceman and not the Azerbaijani side.
The RA Military Garrison Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department has filed a criminal case on the basis of the soldier’s murder.
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 2:15p.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.
No official statement has been released or none has been obtained by the NGO on the causes of death for three military servicemen.
Harutyun Khachatryan (16 January, NK)
On January 16, 2018 at approximately 1:05a.m. soldier Harutyun Khachatryan (Born in 1998) of the military unit located in the northern direction of the Defense Army died in 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 07:30a.m. Stepan Stepanyan was transported in unconscious condition to MOD Central Military Hospital, where he died at 5:30p.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 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 23 January, 2019
