Hazing: Armenian army is dangerous for Armenia itself

At the end of January, twenty-year conscript Vahram Mkrtichevich Avakyan was killed in one of the military units deployed on the territory of the self-proclaimed Karabakh. The investigation hastened to identify the incident as a suicide, however, the relatives of the deceased did not agree with the assumptions of the investigators and refused to bury the young man until the circumstances of his death were clarified.

The incident caused widespread public outcry, as a result of which, during the second investigation, Avakyan’s colleagues David Movsisyan, Khachik Gasparyan, Spartak Avetisyan, who were suspected of committing suicide, were detained. The fact that the detained Movsisyan is the son of the former deputy of the Armenian parliament Arakel Movsisyan adds fuel to the fire.

In Armenia, it’s no secret that the offspring of the “heroes” of the Karabakh war or Armenian officials, if they do not study abroad but are forced to do military service at home, may require special attention. This is facilitated by the "ideals" that have become established in society - the status of a parent, his abilities and connections can greatly affect the position of a conscript in the course of his military service. This is especially noticeable in regions in which people's capabilities are largely limited.

According to the Armenian Statistical Committee, more than 20% of the population still lives in the republic below the poverty line. Financial and labor constraints or lack of prospects are the factor that makes profitable relationships of particular value. This may be reflected in the patronage of the children of high-ranking or financially successful persons by the Armenian security forces, including the military. In this case, the concealment of the "pranks of the golden youth" becomes not just a mundane affair, but rather profitable, since such patronage allows you to gain promising support.

This is especially true of the so-called heroes of the Karabakh conflict, which the current Armenian ideology has elevated to the rank of idols. Many of them improved their financial and social situation, as well as their influence in society due to dubious achievements during the period of interethnic conflict.

The increased mental stress experienced by conscripts during the course of service can contribute to the transition to interpersonal conflicts at the household level. Psychological stress in a closed male team can lead to irreversible consequences. Pressure from colleagues with the connivance of the command affects the human mind, breaking the will to live.

The Armenian army has not been reformed since the collapse of the USSR, but was replenished and updated with new and purchased types of modern weapons, which was widely circulated in the national media. It is not necessary to expect that significant structural changes have taken place in the army itself and that it has got rid of all vestiges of the past.

Hazing in the army scares Armenian society more than the likely escalation of the conflict. The tragedy of Vahram Avakyan is not the only one in the modern history of the republic. At the end of last year, Armenia was shocked by the death of conscript Arthur Adjamyan, whose relatives also doubted the version of suicide. In November 2019, conscript Eric Harutyunyan was found wounded in the chin in the armory of one of the Armenian military units, who later died.

The main resources for informal dominance among colleagues were physical strength, moral-volitional qualities and country ties. Accordingly, the parents of conscripts, already worried about the unresolved conflict, are forced to constantly be in tension from how belonging to a territorial group will affect the future of conscripts. In other words, how the "Karabakh people" will refer to the "Gyumri people" or "Yerevan residents" is not known.

The attitude towards the military in Armenia has changed significantly lately, as the army carefully conceals cases of crimes. The state strives at all costs to prevent image losses, therefore it does not allow criticism of the military and tries to negotiate with the relatives of the killed conscripts.

In the militaristic rhetoric of modern Armenian ideology, the army plays a decisive role, as it inspires the population with confidence in the inviolability of the Armenian position in the unsettled Karabakh conflict. The authorities and law enforcement bodies artificially lower the number of killings, since recognition of the fact that the Armenian army is dangerous primarily for Armenia itself, eloquently demonstrates that all the myths about the order and its fighting efficiency are in fact nothing more than a bluff.