Ohanian: Soldier Khlghatian’s beating fact not proven

21-year-old Hayk Makarian who died in a military unit of the NKR Defense Army had reactive meningitis that was rapidly developing, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said at a meeting with reporters today.

“Everything will be clear after an autopsy,” he said.

Reporters asked the minister to provide details of the case of conscript Mher Khlghatian who was admitted on January 13 to the Central Military Hospital with double pneumonia and injuries.

“A criminal case was opened to determine if force was used against him,” S. Ohanian said, adding that some persons were detained. He assured those present that the guilty will be punished with all the rigor of the law.

As for the media reports that the soldier has cigarette burns on his body, Seyran Ohanian said he was not informed about that. “The fact of the soldier’s beating has not been proved. According to the latest information, Mher regained consciousness and said that no such thing happened. A criminal case was opened. Investigators will conduct an inquiry and draw a final conclusion,” he noted.

In the minister’s opinion, violence and quarrels in the army will go on until appropriate work is done in society. “I am not saying this in order to justify us. Our main struggle this year will be against street habits,” he stressed.

We would remind you that conscript Hayk Makarian, 21, died from an illness in a military unit of the NKR Defense Army on the night of January 15.

Conscript Mher Khlghatian, 18, was transported from Vardenis military hospital and admitted to Armenian Defense Ministry’s Central Military Hospital with double pneumonia and injuries around 2:10 am on January 13.