Amnesty: Law Enforcement System Favors Pardoning Those Who Escaped During the 44-Day War

The draft law presented by the Armenian government regarding "Declaring Amnesty for Individuals Who Avoided Military Call-Ups or Alternative Service During the Regular Draft, Training Gatherings, or Mobilization" has sparked dissatisfaction within the law enforcement system. It is scheduled for discussion at the National Assembly's regular session today. According to the Ministry of Justice, the law could apply to 5,131 citizens. However, the draft has already faced fierce criticism even before reaching parliament.

Sources from the newspaper "Jamanak" report that within the law enforcement system, there are complaints that amnesty should be applied not to those who left the country, but to those who escaped during the unequal battles of the 44-day war, who are accused of abandoning their positions. It is noted that, according to the annual report of the General Prosecutor's Office of Armenia for 2020, criminal cases have been initiated for numerous violations of the rules for combat duty or military service aimed at ensuring the country's security, totaling 1,445 cases.

However, according to information from "Jamanak," the actual number of individuals facing prosecution is much higher, reaching nearly 8,000. Thus, the law enforcement system is more in favor of pardoning these individuals rather than those who fled the homeland, who are now needed by the authorities to participate in the electoral processes.