Parents of Armenian soldiers claim their children serve in inhumane conditions

"Parents of enlisted soldiers serving in the Second Army Corps of the Armenian Defence Ministry protest against inhuman treatment of soldiers guarding the state border in Gegharkunik (Bashkend - ed.)," Yerevan-based "Hraparak" newspaper writes.

According to the officer's mother, commanders beat soldiers, and the commander of the Second Army Corps Garegin Poghosyan hides such incidents in order not to make a fuss.

"Parents are afraid to talk about violence in the army. Since Garik Poghosyan's appointment, complete anarchy reigns in Vardenis. My kid has not left his post for 2 months already, and the conditions of our children's combat duty have been violated. When we ask what the reason is, they say there are no soldiers to replace them," she told newspaper, Caliber.Az reports.

The Second Army Corps of the Armenian Armed Forces guards the state border of Armenia from Martuni (Ashagi Garanlig - ed.) to Chambarak (Girmizikend - ed.).

"The son of our interlocutor is currently serving in the villages of the extended community of Vardenis (Basarkecher - ed.) since 2020. According to the interlocutor, the soldiers are serving in inhumane conditions," says the article.

"The commander of the 2nd Army Corps, Garegin Poghosyan, has turned the soldiers' lives into a real hell," said the father of another soldier. Soldiers are beaten while being on duty, and Poghosyan, who is supposed to report the incident to the military police, hides it.

"Enlisted soldiers are not removed from their combat posts for months, and when they come down from their posts, those soldiers whose parents have acquaintances in the Armenian Defence Ministry are sent on leave. One of the soldiers serving in Vardenis, whose father had a "close acquaintance" in the Armenian Ministry of Defence, was staying in a Yerevan hospital for several months. When asked what was wrong with him, he said, "I have a headache.' This is the state of our army," the interlocutor of the newspaper claimed.