Comments on: Who is Razmik Sargsyan?

By: Hasmik

Hasmik — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 01:07:36 +0000

Myrthe,

Thank you for taking the time and writing background information on the militarism in Armenia.

By: myrthe

myrthe — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 20:45:03 +0000

I forgot to mention that in the last few weeks I read somewhere that Razmik Sargsyan ended his hunger strike. I don’t remember where I read it, probably via Groong.

By: Myrthe

Myrthe — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 07:46:35 +0000

Hasmik, soldier abuse is a very common thing in the Armenian army, but also in other armies in the former Soviet Union. The Russian army is another infamous example. There is violence from officers directed against conscripts, but by far most of the violence is between conscripts. There is a strict hierarchy among them: the newest load is way down, the oldest batch are the “masters” and they get to order the others around, beat them up, etc.
I am not sure what the latest numbers are, but if I remember correctly, about 50 soldiers die each year of non-combat and non-training related causes. Read: violence, suicide, bad treatment of illnesses, that kind of stuff. It’s really depressing and it’s no wonder that those who are in a position to avoid military service, make every effort to do so. Of course, if you have money or contacts, you can get yourself assigned to a better unit or a better position or location.
I know quite a few young guys serving or having served in the army and their stories are not great, to say the least.

By: Hasmik

Hasmik — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 00:20:42 +0000

I have read on child-soldiers but never really came across soldier-abuse incidents. This is just ridiculous.

Thank you for posting this information, please keep us updated!

Your new reader,
Hasmik