Russia military explains incident in Armenia’s Panik village

Vestnik Kavkaza
18 Jul in 16:20

Governor of Armenia’s Shirak Province Karen Sarukhanyan met with the deputy commander of staff at the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri, Aleksei Polyukhovich, to discuss the incident that occurred yesterday in Panik village.

"Aleksei Polyukhovich apologized and noted that the incident was a result of carelessness, assuring that there will no longer be such an omission in their work," Sarukhanyan said.

He explained that the military exercises were conducted to enhance the combat-readiness of the military base. "We realize that the population was worried and frightened. We acknowledge that we have failed and the community was not properly informed. We will conduct a service investigation, and those guilty will be brought to account," News.am cited Sarukhanyan as saying.

The Panik village residents on July 17 heard sounds of shootings and explosions. Sometime thereafter, it was found out that the ones carrying out these shootings and explosions were the servicemen from the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri, and that they had entered the village without notifying and without documents, and conducted military exercises.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS