Armenia`s defense office determined to put an end to hazing in army -  minister 

ArmInfo.Non-combat deaths in Armenia's army is one of the most acute issues, Armenia's Minister  of Defense Suren Papikyan told the RA Public TV. 

At the same time, referring to statistical data, he noted that we are  talking not only about murders, suicides, cases of incitement to  suicide, but also deaths as a result of accidents, illnesses, and  road traffic accidents.  Speaking about the latter, the minister  noted that 12 soldiers died as a result of road accidents in 2023,  and 17 in 2022.

At the same time, Papikyan assured that he is not turning a blind eye  to problems and is not trying to justify himself. "We perceive  problems in the army as our own, and we are trying to find solutions,  cooperating with all law enforcement agencies to identify the root  cause," said the head of the defense department.

He emphasized that the army is a mirror of the public, which means  that what is happening in the ranks of the Armed Forces also reflects  the problems of our society. The minister noted that hazing continues  to occur in the army, but the department, according to Papikyan, will  do everything possible to reduce it to zero in 2024.

Human rights activist Zhanna Aleksanyan, citing data from the  Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, reported in early  January that 83 soldiers died in the Armenian Armed Forces in 2023,  not in combat conditions.