Armenia: recruits should be better examined, experts say

The tragic death of six servicemen became a result of omissions of one of the links of the system, which had recruited a person, representing potential danger to the society. This opinion was stated today at a press conference by psychologist Karine Nalchadzhyan, who noted that the incident proved the need of a more careful medical examination of recruits.

As reported earlier by the "Caucasian Knot", on July 28 in one of military units, a soldier opened fire and killed six militaries: an officer and five regular soldiers. During check of the posts, a lieutenant and a sergeant found a sleeping soldier who has fallen asleep on a post; they woke him up and offended and humiliated him. Another soldier - Karo Aivazyan - opened fire from his sub-machine on them and on three other regular soldiers who ran up to the place. He killed all of them, and then committed suicide. According to certain sources, Aivazyan had lived in the USA for some time, where he was convicted. Also, under unconfirmed data, he had health problems.

According to Ms Nalchadzhyan, the tragic army incident evidences that this structure should be treated very seriously. Having referred to the biography of private soldier Karo Aivazyan, the psychologist has noticed: "His biography had facts, which should have forced to stop and think about the danger this person could present for the society. The incident shows that we need a more careful medical examination of recruits."

Another participant of the press conference - Aik Saakyan, a sociology teacher at the Yerevan State University, - having characterized the army as a structure controlled by tough hierarchy, which assumes plenty of bans, noted that suicides in the army are quite frequent.

Earlier, Agaron Adibekyan, director of the centre "Sociometer", stated that Minister of Defence Seiran Oganyan should be responsible for the tragic incident in the army on July 28.

A participant of the Karabakh war Zhirair Sefilyan, commander of the "Shushi" special battalion, on the contrary, believes that we should not look for those guilty in the army management, since the situation in the Armed Forces is a reflection of the unhealthy atmosphere in the Armenian society.