The Russian 102nd Military Base, Gyumri, Armenia, 13 July 2008. Photo: Russian 102nd Military Base, CC BY 3.0

An investigation has been launched after the body of a Russian serviceman was found in the Armenian city of Gyumri after an apparent suicide, Radio Azatutyun, the Armenian-language channel of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reported on Friday.

According to the report, Konstantin Antonenko, 24, was found dead in the early hours of Thursday morning on the grounds of a hostel for factory workers in Armenia’s second largest city, in the country’s northwest. Gyumri is home to the Russian 102nd Military Base, where some 3,000 servicemen are stationed.

Though it remains unclear precisely how Antonenko met his death, Armenian news website Shamshyan said he was thought to have deep cuts on his arms made by a sharp object.

Armenian investigators have opened a criminal case into incitement to suicide, and a forensic examination of the body has been ordered. Law enforcement in the country has not disclosed any further details of the incident to journalists, while the Russian 102nd Military Base Antonenko served at has also remained tight-lipped regarding the death.

According to Radio Azatutyun, another Russian serviceman was taken to a medical centre in Gyumri two weeks ago with a severe gunshot wound to the head. Doctors managed to save the man’s life, though he was known to have fallen into a coma, according to reports.

On that occasion, journalists established that the soldier in question was on duty at an observation post at the time of the shooting. Armenian police are not investigating the incident, however, as it happened on the military base, according to Radio Azatutyun.