You Will Not See Anywhere That Citizens Will Be Given Free Circulation of Weapons, Balayan

You will not see anywhere that citizens will be given free circulation of weapons. The mobilization is supposed to be exclusively for combat operations in case of an immediate military threat. This was stated today by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, Gabriel Balayan, during a meeting with journalists.

Gabriel Balayan noted that weapons and ammunition will only be distributed to civilians registered in the mobilization force when combat operations begin in a specific locality. “I don’t know what assumption is taken that armed individuals should roam the city or communities; such a thing does not exist. Yes, we assume that we will increase the amount of weapons at the relevant registration points so that we can distribute them when necessary,” said the Deputy Minister of Defense.

According to Balayan, this initiative is aimed at preparing the population for possible combat actions. He stated that they plan to include individuals up to 70 years old in the mobilization force. “They will receive the appropriate assignment and will benefit from corresponding social guarantees,” the deputy minister concluded.

The Ministry of Defense has held numerous meetings with members of the Volunteer Corps, regarding this remark, said the Deputy Minister of Defense: “They are completely different things; the Volunteer Corps is a legal entity, can implement different social programs, and provide support to the army. The Ministry of Defense supports such NGOs to the extent of its capabilities, and we also plan to have a separate discussion on this matter. I do not believe that even if there are complaints, they are justified. And if there are, those complaints will be addressed very soon,” Balayan said.