About the problems in the RA Armed Forces

Every violence is gloomy
And he’s repulsive, he says no
Or force, but he!
About the absence.
(Emerson)

Every citizen, according to Part 3 of Article 14 of the RA Constitution, is obliged to participate in the defense of the RA in the manner prescribed by law.
In the Republic of Armenia, males over 18 years of age enter compulsory military service.
Male and female citizens, starting from adolescence, acquire different ideas about the army, army life.
• The army is a closed system, however, some of its problems are transferred to military life from civilian life. A number of negative phenomena in the army reflect the stereotypes in society. In order to understand these problems and negative phenomena, it is necessary to study and take into account the mentality of pre-conscription adolescents.
“If I see that somebody insults my friend, I will not hit, I will not break, I will speak, I will explain that it is wrong that we are brothers here, we must keep a post with each other, what kind of united army will we have by insulting or crushing each other?
“I will establish justice everywhere, but I cannot say exactly what I will do, I must serve, I will work.”
Report:
During the 44-day intensive hostilities from September 27 to November 10, there were reports of significant casualties and atrocities from all sides.
On July 12-16, clashes took place on the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, near Tavush. As soon as hostilities broke out on September 27, the government declared martial law, restricting freedom of expression, assembly, and freedom of movement. The restrictions were lifted on December 2, and by the end of the year, only the requirement of partial mobilization of troops was in force.
The most significant human rights issues included torture, extrajudicial killings, civilian casualties, arbitrary arrests, and life-threatening prison conditions.
Physical, psychological violence
Any type of violence is psychological (mental) violence.
Violence can be individual or collective; it is always aimed at harming someone physically, psychologically, morally, or otherwise.
Violent or aggressive behavior becomes criminal only when those acts are charged by law. Therefore, violence is not always punishable by law.
Psychological violence cannot go away, as a rule, it leaves a “wound” in the human soul.
The Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (NGO) reported that the number of reports of suicides in the army had doubled in the first half of the year compared to 2019.
Family members and acquaintances of Vahram Avagyan, who allegedly committed suicide on January 30, tried to bring his body to Yerevan. The relatives returned to the village to perform the burial only after the then Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan assured that a proper investigation would take place and the guilty would be punished. On the same day, the Investigative Committee arrested Avagyan’s three employees: Davit Movsisyan, Khachik Gasparyan, and Spartak Avetisyan for violations of the rules that led to serious repercussions.
“I will not let my colleague friend commit suicide, I will talk to him, I will try to understand his psychology, I will not let him go to ruin.”

The boys who are called up for military service are waiting for drastic environmental changes. The way of thinking, daily life, teaching methods are changing. It should be noted that training plays an important role in the armed forces, the subject “Preliminary military training” helps.
The course prepares young people for service, army life and basics.
“I have passed military science. I have learned to disassemble and assemble weapons, but I did not like to study, I considered it meaningless. We learn everything in the army.
We have not learned anything at school alone about how to get a person under psychological pressure out of a bad situation.
We are immediately informed about the number of suicides in the army, but I think it does not come from the service alone, it comes from home, from school, from the social situation >>.
Service difficulties do not become a cause for priority for future servicemen. The main reason for this is the news about the army life. “My friends told me about their service, but until I serve I cannot get an idea about the army.”
Boys who have served in the army.
“The army is hardening us, we are entering a mature life after the army. “Serving with guys with different mindsets, we understand that people are very different and our approach to them is already becoming clear.”
“In the army we unite, we become one family.
We did not solve the problem by shouting or shouting, we understood each other, we stood behind each other.
The main manifestations of violence in military life are verbal violence, physical violence and persecution. Problems related to the manners in the military life need to be solved urgently.
It is necessary to conduct trainings and courses on the right to life in accordance with international standards, including the commanders of the Armed Forces, military police, investigators, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, penitentiary service, which will provide legal assistance on actions in various areas: “At the state level,” privately.

The article was written by Mary Gevorgyan, a participant in the first round of the “Article Contest” organized by the Restart Gyumri Initiatives Center NGO..

The Armenian article is by the link below – https://www.rgnews.am/?p=3460