Five officers to be held accountable over soldier’s death

The internal inquiry into the December 10 death of Private Vanichka Hovakimian was finished. Five officers – the commanders of a platoon, a company, and a battalion in the same military unit and the deputy commander of the regiment will be either deprived of their ranks or demoted. Officers of higher ranks will be reprimanded, Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisian told PastInfo news agency.

The platoon commander Captain Arthur Muradian and two soldiers – Shmavon Kyureghian and Paruyr Mkrtchian were earlier arrested.

Arthur Muradian was charged under Article 375 part 1 of the Criminal Code – abuse of power and office, transgression of authority by a commander or official. Shmavon Kyureghian was charged under Article 359 part 3 and Article 182 part 1, while Paruyr Mkrtchian – under Article 359 part 3 of the Criminal Code.