Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

According to the information summed up by HCAV, 83 servicemen’s death cases were recorded in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and Armed Forces of the Republic of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023 (up to October 2023).

Below are causes of 83 death cases

• 19 cases were caused by violation of ceasefire regime,
• 17 cases were caused by breach of the rules for handling weapon, ammunition, dangerous items,
• 14 cases were caused by car crash,
• 12 cases were caused by health problems,
• 10 cases were caused by suicide or inciting suicide,
• 7 cases were caused by accidents (car explosion, explosion in a garage,lightning strike, drowning, electrocution, gas (carbon monoxide) poisoning),
• 4 cases were caused by murder. 

For the sake of comparison,  64 servicemen’s death cases were recorded in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and Armed Forces of the Republic of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022, of which

• 17 cases were caused by health problems,
• 17 cases were caused by car crash, 
• 14 cases were caused by violation of ceasefire regime,
• 6 cases were caused by suicide, 
• 6 cases were caused by murder, 2 of which were intentional, 2 were caused by breach of combat duty rules, 1 was caused by breach of rules for handling weapon, cause of 1 case is yet unknown to the Organization,
• 2 were caused by accidents (electrocution, drowning),
• 1 was caused by breach of the rules for handling weapon, ammunition, dangerous items,
• 1 was caused by a mine explosion.

The total number of cases recorded in 2023 increased by about 30% as compared to the number of cases recorded during the same period in 2022. As compared to 2022, the number of death cases recorded in non-combat conditions, i.e.,as a result of violations of the ceasefire regime in 2023 increased by 36% (14 and 19 cases respectively).  

The growing number of death cases caused by accidents in the armed forces is worrisome. 2 death cases caused by accidents were recorded in the armed forces in 2022, while 7 similar cases were recorded in 2023.

As compared to 2022, the number of death cases caused by suicide increased by 66% (6 and 10 cases respectively), the number of death cases caused by health problems decreased by 29% (17 and 12 cases respectively).

In regard to cases qualified as murder, there were 6 cases of murder in 2022, while 4 cases of murder were recorded in 2023. As compared to last year, the number of death cases qualified as murder decreased by 33%.

As compared to 2022, the number of death cases caused by car crash decreased by 18% in 2023. Noteworthy, this indicator of decrease is conditioned by the increase in the number of death cases in 2023, since indicators for 2022 and 2023 are quite close (17 and 14 cases respectively). 

1 death case caused by breach of rules for handling weapon, ammunition, and dangerous items was recorded in 2022. While in 2023, 17 similar death cases were recorded. It should be noted that in one incident that took place on 19 January 2023,  15 servicemen died as a result of fire that started in the accommodation envisaged for the RA MoD N military unit engineer infantry company personnel in Azat village, Gegharkunik region. 

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