Responding to a public outcry over the continuing non-combat deaths in the armed forces of Armenia and Artsakh, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today convened a meeting of senior military and law enforcement officials to review the circumstances of each incident and prosecute those responsible.

Those attending today’s meeting included Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan, Minister of Defense David Tonoyan, Acting Director of the National Security Service Eduard Martirosyan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Artak Davtyan, Prosecutor General Arthur Kavkoryan, Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan.

Many in Armenia have criticized Pashinyan for attributing these deaths, many officially described as suicides, on the criminal subculture that conscripts bring with them from the outside.

They argue that little has been done to remove incompetent army officers and to abolish hazing within the ranks.

Pashinyan, at the meeting, said his government will remain focused on maintaining discipline in the army and weeding out all aspects of criminal subculture.