YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Last year 1,462 criminal cases were opened in Armenia based on the fact of avoiding military service for a fixed period. Out of these cases, 1,307 ones were completed, 79 were sent to court, and 1,228 cases were suspended. 1,961 cases were suspended by the preliminary investigation, and decisions not to initiate criminal proceeding were taken in 245 cases. It was announced at the February 14 sitting of the Collegium of the Office of RA Prosecutor General, during which the results of the 2005 activities were summarized. In 2005, the bodies of the RA Military Prosecutor's Office examined 1,045 cases. The courts of first instance made rulings on 334 criminal cases opened against 478 persons. Out of the convicted persons, 419 were soldiers, and 53 were officers. 22 convicted servicemen were those who had tried to avoid alternative service, while 18 were deserters. 17 persons were sentenced on murder charges. Out of damage of the total amount of 2 mln drams (about 182 thousand USD) caused to the state, economic entities and citizens, 47.7 mln drams was recovered during the investigation. It was noted at the sitting that most of the servicemen convicted for military crimes were those who tried to avoid military service by deserting, causing injuries to themselves and in some other way, as well as servicemen sentenced for abuse of power, transgression of authority and violation of the rules of military duty.

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