The Region in Brief

Armenia

No charges have been pressed in an ongoing investigation of the cause of a deadly fire that killed 15 soldiers and injured at least six others at a military barracks on January 19. The fire took place at an abandoned house turned into barracks in Azat, a border village in the eastern Gegharkunik province. Armenia’s Defense Minister says that an officer used gasoline to start a fire in a wood stove. Armenia’s prosecutor-general has opened an investigation into negligence and violation of fire safety rules. At least eight mid-level officers, including the head of the fire safety department of Armenia’s armed forces, have been fired. Some human rights groups and critics have called for the resignation of more senior officials, including the Defense Minister.