Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 2, 2005, Wednesday
MORTAL GAMES IN THE AZERBAIJANIAN ARMY
SOURCE: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer, No. 7, February 25 – March 1,
2005, p. 3
by: Dzhasur Mamedov
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE AZERBAIJANIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY CONCEALS REPORTS
ABOUT NON-COMBAT LOSSES IN THE ARMY
The Azerbaijanian Armed Forces was not involved in military
operations in 2004. However, the republican army suffered losses.
Some sources state that at least 35 people perished (30 in the
national army, 3 in the border guard service and one in the Interior
Troops at the military high school). Soldiers account for the
absolute majority of losses (27 people).
The analysis shows that as a rule servicemen perished because of
barracks hazing (ten incidents). Nine soldiers were killed in
skirmishes with Armenian units. Six people were victims of tragic
accidents (electric shock etc.). Four soldiers committed suicide;
four perished as a result of landmine explosions; two soldiers
perished under an avalanche.
It should be noted that 75 Azerbaijanian servicemen perished in 2003.
However, 34 of them were killed by Armenian servicemen, and only 13
soldiers perished because of barracks hazing. There were eight
suicides; landmines killed seven people.
(…)
Some military experts think that the actual number of servicemen lost
by the Azerbaijanian Army is much higher. The Defense Ministry
disagrees with such conclusions. In the meantime, Major Ilgar
Verdiyev, a representative of the press service of the Azerbaijanian
Defense Ministry, stated, “Such reports concern the Army, which is
why we do not announce them. If journalists address us, we either
confirm or deny facts of tragic accidents in the army. But we never
announce information about the army’s losses.”
In the meantime, other military sources state that at least 50 people
perished and around 60 people were injured in the Army in 2004.
Alekper Mamedov, head of the Azerbaijanian center of democratic civil
oversight, said that reports about the Army’s losses published by the
press do not reflect the actual situation in the Army. He said,
“These facts became known thanks to the victims’ parents. The
majority of citizens whose children perish in the Army receive an
order from the Defense Ministry not to announce such information in
the media. In my opinion, losses increases in 2004. The Defense
Ministry conceals the actual statistics.”
The expert thinks that so many victims is an unbelievable thing for
such small country as Azerbaijan, “The reports published by the media
are too high for our republic. Such losses are common for large
countries. We should find the cause of such tragic accidents.”
(…)
Mamedov noted that as a rule soldiers and officers of the
Azerbaijanian Army perished as a result of murders and suicides in
2004. The expert noted, “The major part of losses was caused by
conflicts between servicemen or between servicemen and civilians.”
Mr. Mamedov stated that for the last time the Defense Ministry
announced reports about losses in the Army in 2000. It turned out
that around 2,000 citizens of Azerbaijan perished in the Army in
1994-2000. The expert noted, “The majority of them perished because
of illnesses, suicides and hazing of young recruits.” He said that
after that the Defense Ministry banned circulating such reports.
As far as the cause of barracks hazing is concerned, Mamedov said
that officers’ activities aimed at improving the Army’s morale are
unsatisfactory. (…) He said, “Weak oversight, bribery, corruption
and prejudice to servicemen create psychological instability in the
Army. The crime rate in the Army went up after the institution of
deputy commanders for morale was abolished.”
The expert focused on the fact that no incidents involving chilblain
and sunstroke happened in 2004. According to him, the Defense
Ministry learned a lesson from its previous experience and reduced
the duration of military exercises in winter and hot summer. (…)
The expert said that the Army must be reformed in order to solve the
problems of non-combat losses. In addition, this task necessitates
replacing officers, using democratic mechanisms in the Army and
bringing the Army in compliance with NATO’s standards. He concluded,
“Only in this case will our Army become strong.”
In conclusion, he noted that at least five servicemen perished in the
Azerbaijanian Army during the first 2 months of 2005. The ghost of
death hovers over the Azerbaijanian Army.
Translated by Alexander Dubovoi