The ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) has awarded 24,000 euros (EUR) for non-pecuniary damage and EUR 2,000 for costs and expenses to Anahit Mkrtchyan, the mother of Arayik Avetisyan, a 22 year-old soldier who died from a gunshot wound on October 30, 2001 during his military service.

From the outset, the official explanation for the incident was that another conscript had accidentally shot her son. Ms. Mkrtchyan, on the other hand, immediately suspected his commanding officer who she alleged had been abusing her son and extorting money from him.

The ECHR, in its decision, writes: “One week later one of the conscripts was charged with murder. He was eventually indicted for negligent homicide resulting from breaching the rules on handling firearms. During these proceedings, the domestic courts remitted the case to the prosecution three times, pointing out shortcomings in the investigation, in particular, a failure to address contradictions in witness statements and the forensic data.”

The conscript in question later denied his previous statement.

The investigation is still ongoing today, with the criminal proceedings having been stayed for the second time in March 2019 on the grounds that it had not been possible to identify the person against whom charges should be brought.

Relying on Article 2 (right to life) of the European Convention on Human Rights, Ms. Mkrtchyan alleged that the national authorities’ investigation into the death of her son, lasting so far more than 18 years, had not been effective.

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