President Ordered Inquiry into Case of Soldier with Mental Illness, Says Father

The Armenian president has issued an order to look into the case of Hovhannes Vardanyan, who was serving in the army until being admitted to a psychiatric clinic with mental health issues last month, Hovhannes’ father, Vardan Vardanyan, told Epress.am today.

 

“They’re already seriously working on my son’s case: they’ve gone to the psychiatric clinic and spoke with my Hovik [Hovhannes]. Now a working group has been created — they’re going to go to Askeran [military base in Nagorno-Karabakh].  And that day [deputy defense minister] Vova Gasparyan said he called the president and the president said work on that kid’s case. Gasparyan was a proper, normal guy,” said Hovhannes’ father.

 

Recall, in a video disseminated by youth civic initiative “We won’t be silent,” the 19-year-old former soldier says officers attempted to beat and rape him.

 

RA military prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan has already instructed that criminal proceedings be launched to investigate the allegations.