Armenia sacks entire command of 2nd Army Corps due to deadly fire

12:30

Armenian President Vahagn Khachatryan has dismissed the commander of the 2nd Army Corps, Vahram Grigoryan, and the entire command staff after a strong fire killed 15 servicemen in a military unit.

The relevant decree has already been published on the Armenian president’s website.

In addition to the commander of the 2nd Corps, his deputies Colonel Mihran Makhsudyan (chief of staff), Colonel Shiraz Khachatryan (logistics deputy) and Colonel Artur Ohanyan (combat line deputy) will be removed from their posts, according to Armenia’s Public Television.

Deputy commander, chief of staff of the brigade, Lt-Col Rudik Hakobyan, Deputy Commander of the logistics brigade, Lt-Col Gor Akhekyan, head of the engineering service of the brigade, Capt Tigran Ghazaryan, and commander of the engineering company, Capt Gor Sargsyan, will also leave their posts.

11:45

The commander of the 2nd Army Corps of the Armenian Armed Forces Vahram Grigoryan will be relieved of his post.

Grigoryan’s dismissal is explained by the large fire that sparked in one of the military units of his corps at 1:30 a.m. on January 19, Caliber.Az informs, quoting Armenian media.

The tragic accident was said to occur in a shelter of the engineer-sniper company of a military unit, located in the Azat village of Gegharkunik region (Goycha province), under circumstances which have not yet been established.

Fifteen servicemen were killed as a result of the intense fire, with three other servicemen’s health conditions assessed as severe.

A criminal case has been initiated into the incident and a preliminary investigation is underway.