Epress.am News from Armenia
Hovhannes Yesayan, a 19-year-old Yerevan resident serving in military unit 21127 in the village of Mehrab in Armenia’s Tavush marz (province), called local youth civic initiative group “We Won’t Be Silent” to report that his speaking out against discrimination and preferential treatment prevalent in the military unit has resulted in regimental commander, Colonel Seyran Ghazaryan and unit chief, Lieutenant Colonel Artur Kirakosyan persecuting him.
According to Yesayan, a harmless argument between him and a fellow soldier gave cause for the colonel and lieutenant colonel to settle accounts with him by sending the matter to court. In Yesayan’s words, the two men provided false material to law enforcement agencies and asked for the conscript to be sentenced to two months in prison (presumably for a minor offense of procedural violations).
The young conscript says he is aware that the court has issued a ruling, as he was told (by the court) that the decision would be sent to him at the base 5 days after the court date; however, army commanders are telling him they have not yet received the written ruling. Yesayan says this is so that the 10-day period allowed to appeal the court decision expires.
The youth civic initiative group, upon Yesayan’s request, has made public the Nov. 2 phone conversation between Yesayan and “We Won’t Be Silent” through a video uploaded on YouTube. The video (in Armenian only) has been sent to Armenia’s Ministry of Defense.