Lawyer: Information was spread about death of 15 servicemen in Azat  village, which needs to be verified

ArmInfo. January 19 marks a year since the terrible tragedy in the village of Azat, which claimed the lives of 15 servicemen. To this day, there has been no progress in the investigation of this case - according to the parents of the dead soldiers, the true reasons have not been identified, and the latter refuse to believe the official version put forward by government officials for a number of objective reasons.

During the press conference, the parents' lawyer Norayr Norikyan was unable to tell the public anything new, since the investigation is being conducted exclusively around the official version, and the authorized  bodies do not take other options and evidence into account.

The injured party stated with full responsibility that the latter are  doing everything possible to ensure that not a single real step can  be taken to  reveal the case.

If the authorities claim that the fire is a consequence of violation  of the rules for the use of materials, devices or objects,  ammunition, military equipment or other military property and  official negligence, then, according to the lawyer, the Armenian  government, headed by Nikol Pashinyan, bears responsibility for the  death of the soldiers.

He added that the tragedy is the result of incorrect personnel policy  of the Armed Forces, lack of strategic thinking, irrational  management of resources, lack of responsibility, professionalism, as  well as due to bias, impunity, social injustice, etc. According to  the defense side, light will be shed on the situation only after  finding out what was happening a few hours before the tragedy.

Norikyan also said that he had a meeting with two defendants in the  case - the deputy chief of the brigade commander for logistics Gor  Agekyan and the head of the public utility service Marlen Sargsyan at  the request of the latter with the condition of maintaining  confidentiality. "I presented the results of our conversation to  soldier's parents. I won't reveal details, but if we follow the trail  and check the information received, and if it is confirmed, then I  declare with all responsibility that we can safely tear up and throw  in the trash the compiled volumes of the criminal case," he said.

The father of one of the dead soldiers, Gabriel Kirakosyan, noted  that he does not have any hopes with the authorities, but intends to  fight for the truth to the end. "I have no words left for these  authorities, not even curse words. This is a group of predators. I  can only equate them to the Turks. Because only a Turk can kill an  Armenian soldier like that and hide it so brazenly. Only for a Turk  our soldier is of no value," said Kirakosyan. He expressed particular  dissatisfaction with the behavior of Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.   The latter, according to him, has not uttered a word about the  tragedy to this day.

15 servicemen were killed, one officer and four conscripts were  injured as a result of the fire that broke out in the building of the  engineering company in the military unit in Azat village of  Gegharkunik region on the night of January 19. According to  authorities, the fire resulted from a violation of fire safety  regulations.  The officer allegedly used gasoline to light a potbelly  stove. In connection with the incident, the entire command staff of  the Second Army Corps was dismissed. There are 5 people involved in  the case.