Vahagn Hovakimyan's Sons Did Not Serve in the Army: 'Joghvorud'

'Joghvorud' newspaper reports: 'The newly elected president of the Central Electoral Commission, former MP Vahagn Hovakimyan, has two sons who did not serve in the Armenian army.

'On October 21, 'Joghvorud' sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia with the following questions: 'Did Misak Vahagni Hovakimyan and Narek Vahagni Hovakimyan complete mandatory military service or not? If yes, where and when? If no, why not, and on what grounds?'

'On November 3, 'Joghvorud' received a response from Hamlet Batikyan, the chief secretary of the Ministry of Defense, stating: 'I inform you that Misak Vahagni Hovakimyan and Narek Vahagni Hovakimyan have been exempted from mandatory military service based on established legal grounds.'

'At the same time, citing the 'Law on Personal Data Protection,' the Ministry of Defense of Armenia refused to provide the reasons for the exemption from military service for the sons of the CEC president. Regardless of the reasons, it should be noted that if Vahagn Hovakimyan were not a ruling party MP, it is unlikely that he would have been able to exempt his sons from mandatory military service.'

For more details, see today's issue of the newspaper.