Media: Dismissals of generals expected at Armenia's Defense Ministry

Dismissals of high-ranking generals are expected at Armenia's Defense Ministry, the newspaper "Hraparak" writes.

Society is dissatisfied with the situation in the army and the rising number of deaths. Minister Suren Papikyan decided to divert attention from himself and dismiss several high-ranking generals, replacing them with young and manageable personnel.

According to the publication, one of the "victims" will be Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Temur Shakhnazaryan.
Let us note that in just one month, five cases of suicide were recorded in the Armed Forces. Earlier, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated that it was news to him that the head of the Defense Ministry could be blamed for the deaths of soldiers.
Since the beginning of 2026, more than a dozen cases of deaths of servicemen have already been recorded in Armenia's Armed Forces, five of whom were doing compulsory military service. The incidents in the army caused a wide public outcry. Issues related to discipline, hazing and the moral and psychological condition of the personnel have again become topical. Against this backdrop, the head of Armenia's Defense Ministry began a series of inspection visits to military units.

On August 13, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, commenting on the incidents in the army and the situation in the Armed Forces as a whole, announced personnel changes in the structures directly responsible for this sphere. Shortly after that, the head of the Directorate for Moral and Psychological Support of the Armed Forces Serezha Stepanyan and the head of the Military Police Ashot Zakaryan lost their posts.

Source: Sputnik Armenia