YOUTUBE ON AGENDA: CONSCRIPT WHO SHOT VIDEO MAY FACE PUNISHMENT
Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
23.09.10
The Ministry of Defense of Armenia (MOD) made public on Wednesday
the names of the people shown on YouTube, showing an Armenian army
officer beating, torturing and humiliating two conscripts.
The defense ministry says that Major Sasun Galstyan, who “under the
influence of alcohol beat and teased servicemen,” is the culprit who
abused sergeant Garik Harutyunyan and private Bakur Yeghikyan.
Galstyan is accused of abuse of power.
The video material was leaked on September 11 via social networks,
raising a huge clamor, causing the military to conclude that: “The
ministry severely condemns the preparation and deliberate spread
of suchlike materials, slandering and defaming the armed forces
of Armenia.”
According to ArmeniaNow sources, the conscript who shot the video is
under pressure by the military for his role in showing the material.
“The mobile phone, by which the video material was shot, is
confiscated,” says an MOD statement. The conscript, who shot the video,
as well as his father and brother are being examined.”
“It turns out that the conscript who shot the video is pressured
more than the ‘cannibal’ [meaning officer Galstyan], who humiliates
soldiers,” one of the relatives of the conscript, who shot the video,
told ArmeniaNow, preferring to be anonymous.
From: A. Papazian