3 ARMENIAN SOLDIERS DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS IN MARTUNI AND ASGARAN HOSPITAL LAST MONTH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2006

Number of Armenian soldiers contracted Plevritis increased in the
Armenian Army.

Armenian non-governmental organizations’ report reads that tuberculosis
spread among Armenian soldiers stationed in the occupied Azerbaijani
lands. Armenian media say that the situation is unbearable in military
units located near the contact frontline specially. 2 soldiers drafted
to the military service from Armenian Lamo and Jermuk regions died
of tuberculosis in Martuni military hospital and one soldier of the
separatist regime died in Asgaran hospital. Armenian NGOs stated
that lawlessness during draft, service conditions being unbearable,
corruption and other negative cases spread Armenian Armed Forces.

“Bribe of $1,500-2,000 is required in Armenian military registration
offices to exempt a healthy from the military service and $500
for disable ones. Bribe of $100 is required from the soldiers for
their being taken to the hospital irrespective of their being ill or
healthy. Parents give bribe of $500 to the registration offices to
prevent their children to be sent to the military units located in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”.

The report reads that many officers substituted their service place
for places near Yerevan by giving bribe. NGO representatives sent
the report on negative cases in Armenian Army to the parliamentary
assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) human rights and law issues.

A report on situation in the Armies of the Post-Soviet countries as
well as Armenia will be listened to at the PACE session on April
10-13. The 18-page document reflects irregularities in the Armed
Forces of the Council of Europe member states.