KIND, BUT NOT SOFT GENERAL!

Recently, 75-year-old Lieutenant-General Leonid Martirosov, after nearly 56 years of service, had retired.

He was born in Baku in 1939, studied in Tbilisi Artillery College, Leningrad Artillery Academy. Served in Central Asia, Soviet contingent in Germany, in Baku, and in 1990 moved to Yerevan.

– When the Defense Committee was formed, I was called there on the advice of Dalibaltayan – says the General. – After some time I was already RA MoD Operative Department’s Deputy Head, after 6 months – General Staff 1st Deputy Head. Participated in military operations in Kornidzor, Shoushi, Martakert… In 2001 I was in Military Inspection, over the years carried out many inspections. The officer must be honest – especially the inspector, and, at first, to himself. If today you put a good mark to a loser, then, if tomorrow there is war, it is impossible to avoid casualties. Bitter truth is better than sweet lie. If someone does not match his office, let him dismiss and appoint someone who will work.

I tried to input in our young people the idea that an officer must constantly work on himself. What is taught in the academies, over the years is forgotten. Not to forget, it is necessary to repeat all the time. Especially because the tactics, weapons are changing very rapidly, according to the situation.

As an inspector, I was very happy when in a military unit I saw that officers understand – if military training is not up to standard, then blood would be shed meaninglessly. We must not forget about the everyday training. Without exaggeration I would say that we have high-quality cadres. That also prove our 18-20 year olds, destroying well-trained enemy sabotage groups. My military uniform now hangs in the closet, and let it be, I’ll wear it only during the holidays.

Interview by ARSEN AGHEKYAN