Deputy Defense Minister on Suicides in the Army

“Of course, it would be ideal if there were no cases of suicide or attempted suicide. We draw our conclusions, and the responsible officials receive their punishments. In all cases, it is impossible to completely avoid such incidents in the army. Unfortunately, in units performing armed duty, it is impossible to fully ensure safety. I consider this a shortcoming, and there is much to be done to eliminate all of this,” said Gabriel Balayan, Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, in a briefing with journalists on November 11, responding to a question about what measures are being taken to prevent suicides in the army.

It should be noted that this year, 9 criminal cases have been initiated regarding suicide or attempted suicide. According to the official, the number of such incidents was one less than last year.

When asked whether the deputy minister is confident that all incidents of suicide or attempted suicide are indeed such, as relatives of deceased soldiers insist on the presence of signs of violence, Balayan noted that this cannot be ruled out; it may be a result of beatings prior to suicide. “The criminal case may yield different conclusions. Everything is done according to criminal procedural rules,” concluded the Deputy Minister of Defense.