Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan and the chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defense and Security, Andranik Kocharyan, met with the family members of fallen soldier Vahram Avagyan, who was killed on January 30th in Artsakh. His relatives brought his casket from his birthplace, the Haytagh village near Ejmiatsin, to Yerevan. They said that they do not believe claims that the soldier had committed suicide. In addition, the son of former parliamentary deputy Arakel Movsisyan, Davit Movsisyan, and two other soldiers were arrested as a result of investigations surrounding the soldier’s death.
“I’m telling you that, as the Minister of Defense, this was not suicide,” the minister said. He added that he will personally follow the case. “Why did they say on the news that he committed suicide, then?” one of the soldier’s relatives inquired. “Do you have any reason not to trust me? Let’s stop all of this. It’s not bringing anyone honor, nor is it bringing your child or country any honor,” Davit Tonoyan said to the soldier’s relatives, who said that they do not trust Tonoyan. The relatives demanded that the minister reveal the names of those who killed the soldier and that he refute claims that the soldier killed himself.
“According to the information I have and the circumstances surrounding the case, I can say that this was not an act of suicide for me. Morally, I personally take responsibility for this, as well as the commanders, because they did not follow everything appropriately. I assure you that they will be strictly punished after we finish the proper legal and criminal evaluations,” the minister said. The soldier’s uncle said to the minister, “I gave five soldiers to our country. All five of them served in Artsakh. Why did you reward me in this way? Why did this have to happen? You gave him the label of a child. I sent him to defend you, me, and everyone… he was your child, get rid of that label.”
“Our supervision was inaccurate, which is what caused this tragic case. We were also wrong here. I am asking you to please stop all of this… The Investigative Committee will soon release the names of those arrested,” Davit Tonoyan said. A priest was also present, who said that the soldier will be buried with the proper ceremony.
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“The names have been released,” Andranik Kocharyan said in an attempt to calm the relatives down. “Gasparyan, Movsisyan, and Avetisyan have been arrested.”
“One of them was Shmays’ son,” one of the fallen soldier’s relatives said. They did not want to leave and they demanded to know the name of the murderer, not those who were arrested. The soldier’s mother demanded public punishment. “Imagine your son in front of you… They killed my son. I sent my son to the army. Look how I raised him! It’s enough!”
The soldier’s sister-in-law, Astghik, approached the minister with a photo of her brother-in-law. “You bought weapons, but soldiers are still dying. Why is your supervision so poor? The Armenian nation lost many soldiers, but nothing changed.” Davit Tonoyan asked the relatives to cease the protests. “Please, stop. I will come with you to be present at the viewing. Please, let’s go and express our condolences.”
Gohar Hakobyan
