Artak Davtyan Refuses to Resign

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Artak Davtyan, announced after a closed-door discussion in the National Assembly that he does not intend to resign. "There will be personnel changes, which will be officially communicated," he stated.

Regarding the possible dismissal of the Minister of Defense of Artsakh and the Chief of the Police, he mentioned that he has no information. "I cannot provide information on the measures that have been taken or are being taken, but the information gap will be filled in the near future," he added.

When asked who would be held accountable for the casualties in the army, Davtyan replied that everyone is equal before the law, and those guilty will be determined by a court ruling. "Service investigations are being conducted, based on the outcomes of which individuals may face disciplinary action, including dismissal," he said.

In response to whether there is a criminal subculture in the army, Davtyan acknowledged that there are elements, but further clarity will emerge from the investigation results. Regarding the presence of 'privileged' individuals in military units, he noted that work is being done in this direction. "We clearly know the causes of eight out of the thirteen casualties, and we are addressing that," he stated, pointing out, "Currently, we have cases of near-suicides, and it is clear how much they are related to service. In many cases, these are narrow personal reasons."