Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

HCA Vanadzor hereby presents data regarding the death cases of servicemen in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, and Republic of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022. HCAV collected the data from the information disseminated by mass media and official sources, as well as responses to the information inquiries addressed by the Organization to official organizations (RA Ministry of Defence, RA Prosecutor General’s Office, RA Investigative Committee). 

According to the information gathered by the Organization, 64 servicemen’s death cases were recorded in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, and Republic of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in 2022.  The report does not include the number of servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan’s large-scale attack on the Republic of Armenia on September 13-15, 2022. 

Below are the causes of the 64 cases:

•  17 cases were caused by health problems,
• 17 cases were caused by car crash,
• 14 cases were caused by ceasefire violation,
• 6 cases were caused by suicide,
• 6 cases were caused by murder, 2 of which were intentional murders, 1 was related to breach of the rules for handling weapon, 1 case occurred in unknown circumstances, 2 cases were caused by violation of combat service rules,
• 2 cases were caused by accidents (burn as a result of fire, electric shock, drowning),
• 1 case of breach of the rules for handling weapon, munitions, dangerous substances,      
• 1 case was caused by a mine explosion.

Only 30 (47%) out of 64 servicemen’s death cases of 2022 were officially reported, information on 4 death cases (6%) was disseminated only by mass media, mass media-published information on 3 cases (5%) was confirmed by the MoD and the Prosecutor General’s Office, but no official report was given on those cases. No information was disseminated regarding the other 27 (42%) cases.  

Noteworthy, according to the geographical coverage, 54 (84%) out of 64 death cases occurred on the RA territory, 10 (16%) occurred on the Republic of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh territory.

76 servicemen’s death cases were recorded in 2021. As compared to 2021, the total number of death cases decreased by 16% (12 cases) in 2022.  

Click here to read the full report.