Epress.am News from Armenia
The RA Ministry of Defense today issued a statement to follow up on its Oct. 3 statement concerning the death of Samvel Gevorg Khachatryan, 18, a soldier serving in Armenia’s armed forces who reportedly hung himself in the basement of one of the military barracks on Oct. 3.
The defense ministry statement notes that as a result of “necessary and urgent investigative measures and examinations,” a group of military personnel on mandatory contract, violating the rules of the code on military relations, assaulted Khachatryan and verbally humiliated him.
“Criminal proceedings have been issued. On suspicion of the crime based on Article 359 Section 3 and Article 375 Section 2 of the RA Criminal Code, the battery commander, three sergeants on mandatory contract and three rank-and-file officers have been arrested. The investigation is ongoing. All necessary measures to find out all details of the case are being carried out,” reads the statement.
Note that local daily Jamanak (“Times”) reported on Oct. 6 that the officers were arrested. According to the paper, “It was, in fact, military officers who hung Khachatryan, a few of whom are currently under arrest. An autopsy revealed numerous bruises on the victim’s body. Currently, the unit’s soldiers are being questioned.”
Today, local daily Chorrord Ishkhanutyun (“Fourth Authority”) published a story, citing Khachatryan’s mother who said, “7 people, ordered by their savage lieutenant, beat my son. But he wasn’t afraid of all that, he separated from them, not imagining they would kill him.” She also described the state she saw her son in, asking, “How could he have killed himself when his fingers were broken, his hand was broken?”