Armenia sends senior officers to border amid army discipline crisis

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has pointed to serious discipline problems within the country’s armed forces, amid reports of a high number of deaths among military personnel.

Senior officers, including women, are being deployed to border positions as authorities seek to address disciplinary issues and incidents within the army, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Papikyan reportedly linked the deaths to hazing and other forms of misconduct in the ranks of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Armenian media outlets reported that soldiers have been involved in incidents in which they allegedly drive one another to suicide, while clashes between servicemen over everyday disputes have also resulted in fatal violence.

The reports further suggested that commanders have struggled to effectively manage such conflicts and maintain discipline within military units.

By Vafa Guliyeva