MP:  appointment or removal of Defense Minister should not be  considered based on incidents

ArmInfo.Currently, law enforcement agencies of Armenia are conducting investigations into incidents in the country's armed forces, the results of which will identify existing problems in the army. Armen Khachatryan, MP from the ruling Civil Contract faction, told reporters on January 10.

Let us recall that on January 9, two incidents were recorded in the 2nd Army Corps. Early in the morning, the body of contract soldier Karen Karapetyan with a gunshot wound was found at the combat post. A few hours later, the body of Senior Lieutenant Mikael Danielyan with a gunshot wound was found at another post.

In this regard, answering the question of whether RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan will be held responsible for these incidents, the MP noted that the issue of appointing or removing the head of the defense department should not be considered based on incidents or crimes in the army. Khachatryan noted that the head of the defense department is politically responsible for the army, but if we link the issue of work to the position of the person who is politically responsible for the army, then the minister of defense should change every week or twice a month, which is absurd.

At the same time, according to Khachatryan, all those persons whose activities or inaction led to negative consequences should be held accountable. The MP recalled the reforms being carried out in the army, especially after the 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to him, a lot has changed in the army, including a reduction in cases of hazing in the ranks of the Armenian Armed Forces.