Engineering chief indicted for failure to enforce fire safety rules in barracks where 15 troops died in blaze
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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Another military serviceman has been charged amid the investigation into the January 19 barracks fire which killed 15 servicemen and injured 5 others.
The general prosecution said that the head of the military base’s engineering service is charged under clause 3 of Article 550 of the Criminal Code (military official negligence which recklessly caused death).
The serviceman failed to fulfill his duties of ensuring the presence of safety measures, including fire safety equipment in the military base, the prosecutors said.
The fire in the makeshift barracks of a military base in the village of Azat, Gegharkunik broke out on January 19 when an officer attempted to start a stove (heater) with gasoline. Servicemembers were unable to extinguish the fire because there were no fire protection measures in the barracks. The barracks also lacked a fire exit and the soldiers were unable to break the window grills to escape.
Other military servicemen in charge of enforcing and maintaining the fire safety rules in the military base where the fire happened are also facing indictments.