"Golos Armenia": "At a time when soldiers are not dying at the border, the fact that soldiers lose their lives in barracks and military units raises serious questions"
Non-combat deaths in the Armenian army continue to cause serious concern in the country.
This is stated in the investigation by "Golos Armenia".
According to the publication, the death of the conscript Narek Torosyan on July 21 in one of the Defense Ministry's military units has brought the systemic crisis in the army back to the forefront. According to the Investigative Committee, two days after the incident, two soldiers – a junior sergeant and a private – were detained. The investigation indicates that as a result of their actions, Narek Torosyan was driven to suicide.
"Golos Armenia" notes that Torosyan's tragedy is not just an isolated criminal case but another manifestation of deepening problems in the Armed Forces of Armenia. According to the Vanadzor Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Office, this is the 30th death recorded in the Armenian army since the beginning of 2026. The most notable point is that none of these deaths are related to combat operations.
It is also emphasized that the Nikol Pashinyan administration has long declared the beginning of a "peace era" in the country. At a time when no soldiers have died as a result of ceasefire violations at the border, the fact that soldiers lose their lives in barracks and military units raises serious questions.
According to the human rights defenders’ investigation, about 37 percent of the non-combat losses recorded in the first seven months of this year are due to suicides and murders. Six out of eight suicide cases and two out of three murders are officially considered related to military service. Statistics show that the situation is worsening year by year. Between 2010 and 2017, there were 462 deaths in the Armenian army, 299 of which occurred in non-combat conditions. Between 2018 and 2025, the total number of deaths rose to 511, with non-combat losses reaching 427. These figures indicate a further deepening of problems related to internal security and psychological atmosphere in the army.
The article states that if Narek Torosyan was driven to suicide, this is not just the individual responsibility of certain soldiers. The publication questions why the commanders did not intervene in time, why the soldier’s psychological state was not monitored, and why there was no mechanism to safely convey the pressures he was experiencing.
"Golos Armenia" also recalls the promises made by the Pashinyan administration that corruption, violence, and "dedovshchina" (hazing) in the army would be eradicated. The newspaper writes that although the government advertises new military uniforms, improved nutrition conditions, and other cosmetic changes, the main issue – soldiers’ safety – has not been ensured. The publication also criticizes the reform carried out in February this year in the military chaplain service. It is stated that the effective abolition of the independent chaplaincy institution of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the army weakened the moral-psychological support system trusted by soldiers. According to the author, this change may have had a negative effect on preventing suicides.
In conclusion, it is emphasized that in the context of the increase in non-combat losses in the Armenian army, the government must answer to society, investigate the causes of the tragedies, and take urgent measures to prevent their recurrence. Otherwise, the rising death statistics against the background of the alleged reforms and promises in the army show that a deep crisis continues in the Armed Forces of Armenia./Musavat.com