Soldier’s father confirms Defense Ministry statement
Vardan Vardanyan, the father of 20-year-old Hovhannes Vardanyan who has been transferred to a psychiatric clinic in Nork district, today confirmed the official information that his wife Anahit Ayvazyan suffers from schizophrenia.
"The illness was noted 7-8 years ago. The documents given by doctors certify that Anahit suffers from the illness," Vardan Vardanyan told A1+.
The father says his son was also diagnosed with schizophrenia in the psychiatric clinic.
Hovhannes Vardanyan was taken to the psychiatric clinic after serving 1-2 months in the army. The parents were informed about Hovhannes's whereabouts nine days later.
Artashes Parsadyan, a senior official in the RA Armed Forces, said on Tuesday that Hovhannes had had health problems before joining the army, but the family kept it in secret.
"My son had been examined four times. He is the guardian of my wife since our marriage is not registered in the registry office. When Hovhannes was first taken to the central commissariat, he was sent back home as he was the only guardian of his disabled mother. Six months later, the commissariat began to bother us. We were told that if Hovhannes avoided military service he would be tried," said the father.
Vardan Vardanyan does not rule out that Hovhannes may have inherited the illness from his mother. However, he claims that his son was tortured in the army and as a result became insane.
"My son has had no problems with his health. I know that Hovhannes had problems with his commander, after which he did not call us for a long time. Then, one day one of his friends called us to inform that Hovhannes is in a mental hospital," said the father.
Armenian Military Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan ordered to initiate a criminal case against the officer who, according to Vardan Vardanyan, used violence against his son. The case was initiated under Article 375 of the Armenian Criminal Code (misuse of power, administrative dereliction).
