Relatives of the fifteen Armenian soldiers who died  in a January 19 military barracks fire gathered outside the Government Building in Yerevan today and are demanding to meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan.

The relatives aren’t satisfied with the government’s investigation of the incident, claiming negligence on the part of investigators.

Artyom Grigoryan, grandfather of one of the victims, told Hetq that Gagik Isahakyan, Pashinyan’s assistant, told the protesters that the government will get back to them within a week about a possible meeting.

Grigoryan told Hetq the relatives do not believe Pashinyan’s explanation that the fire was caused when a unit commander dumped gasoline on a heating stove.

Grigoryan said they will give the government one week to respond and then they will decide what steps to take.

Relatives of those who died closed the Yerevan-Sevan highway on April 18, demanding to meet the Pashinyan and Papikyan.

Relatives met with the Deputy General Prosecutor, Military Prosecutor Grigor Elizbaryan on March 30, but did not receive satisfactory answers to their questions.

 Earlier, lawyer Norayr Norikyan said that he and the relatives of the servicemen submitted applications to the Minister of Defense and the Military Prosecutor for a meeting, but Minister Suren Papikyan did not want to meet with them.

Photos: Hetq