33 Non-Combat Deaths Recorded in the Army Over 8 Months, 3 in the Last 10 Days: Zara Hovhannisyan

Human rights defender Zara Hovhannisyan reports that the number of non-combat deaths in the army has reached 33 over the course of 8 months in 2026, with three cases recorded in the last 10 days.

She notes that the Ministry of Defense of Armenia announced the discovery of the body of serviceman Edgar Gevorgyan from military unit N, who was found with gunshot wounds, and an investigation is underway to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident. Ten days ago, on August 13, the Ministry had reported the finding of another serviceman, Grigor Edgar Zakaryan, also with gunshot wounds, leading to the initiation of a criminal proceeding.

On August 19, a "Gaz-53" vehicle collided with several servicemen on the road leading to Chambarak city, resulting in the death of one of them, Suren Mambrey Vardanyan; a criminal proceeding has also been initiated regarding this incident.

According to the human rights defender, this situation necessitates addressing not only the ongoing investigations into each incident but also raising larger questions about what is happening in the army and why the lives of servicemen are often cut short in non-combat conditions. She emphasizes that when deaths occur in succession, it is insufficient to examine each case in isolation; it is necessary to start investigating recurring patterns, what causes servicemen to die, where the greatest risks arise, and what happens in the military units where disciplinary practices turn into humiliation, coercion, or a dangerous system of unwritten punishments.

Hovhannisyan states that the unwritten rule of insulting and belittling, known as “kfur,” also warrants separate investigation, as it can not only lead to the degradation of human dignity and numerous confrontations but also result in violations of the right to life.

In conclusion, she mentions that preserving young lives is a state obligation, not merely handing a black paper to parents with one message and limiting the matter to individual legal proceedings; this should be everyone's demand as a matter of human rights and security.