Summer Draft Announced by Government Decision; Will Take Place from May 1 to August 30

The Armenian government made a decision during its meeting on April 23 to announce the summer draft. The decision specifically states:

“Announce the summer draft for mandatory military and alternative service for male citizens of the Republic of Armenia from May 1, 2020, to August 30, 2020, inclusive, who turn 18 years old by June 30, 2020, inclusive, as well as those citizens whose deferral from conscription for mandatory military service expires before July 31, 2020, inclusive.

2. Within the framework of the 2020 summer draft, soldiers who have completed mandatory military or alternative military service will be discharged by August 11, 2020, inclusive, within the legally stipulated period.

3. Discharge those who have served the established term in alternative working service.

The justification for the decision notes that according to part 4 of Article 19 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on “Military Service and the Status of Servicemen,” the conscription for mandatory military service is announced by a government decision at least twice a year.

The decision of the Armenian government also defines the actions related to the organization of the draft, the bodies responsible for the organization of the draft, the duration of the draft, and the discharge of servicemen who have completed mandatory military service within the timeframe specified by this law. According to part 1 of Article 25 of the law, republican and regional (Yerevan city) draft commissions are created by government decision, with the presentation of the Minister of Defense, to organize the announced conscription for mandatory military service.

According to part 1 of Article 6 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on “Alternative Service,” the conscription for alternative service and the discharge from reserve are carried out together with the conscription for mandatory military service and the discharge from reserve.