Epress.am News from Armenia
In the first quarter of 2015, 26 soldiers have died in 20 incidents registered in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Defense Army, twice as many as in the same period of 2014, show the results of a study conducted by Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor office.
According to a report issued by the human rights NGO, in 19 of the 26 cases the deaths were caused by ceasefire violations; 2 cases – homicide; 2 cases – suicide (official version); 1 case – by violation of combat duty or service rules; 1 death was caused by an accident; 1 – by health problems.
15 of the 19 deaths caused by ceasefire violations occurred on the territory of NKR, 4 – in Armenia; in particular, 2 cases – in combat positions deployed in the region of Berd of Armenia's Tavush province; 1 case – in the border village of Voskevan of Tavush Province. Note that in 2014, 26 servicemen died due to ceasefire violations.
“This indicates that the situation at the line of contact with Azerbaijan has further exacerbated which, in turn, leads to more losses,” – concludes the HCA Vanadzor office.
In 2015, the death of Artur Afyan, a contract soldier of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, was also registered. According to available information, Afyan had disappeared and his body was found on March 8, 2015.