The State is Essentially Drafting Citizens into Another 'Mandatory Military Service' Under the Guise of 'Training Gatherings': Tatoian Foundation

Under the guise of 'training gatherings,' the state is effectively drafting citizens into another form of 'mandatory military service,' placing an illegal supplementary burden on individuals. This statement was issued by the Center for Law and Justice, the Tatoian Foundation.

While training gatherings hold significant importance for national security, they should not be conducted in a manner that distorts the goals of the Constitution and the law.

The professional studies conducted by the Tatoian Foundation's Center for Law and Justice show that the Armenian government, under the name of 'training gatherings,' is in fact drafting a specific number of citizens for combat duties; in other words, individuals listed in the reserve are being drawn back into mandatory military service, with the risk of facing criminal liability for evading service.

This means that these citizens are effectively undergoing another form of 'mandatory military service'. Specifically, on February 2, 2023, the Government of Armenia adopted Decision No. 122-N concerning the declaration of 'Training Gatherings' and the involvement of transportation means of bodies responsible for military transport obligations, announcing training gatherings for reserve officers and soldiers of the first and second categories from March 1 to May 12, 2023. Up to 3,281 citizens, including 2,897 privates and junior sub-officers, 152 senior sub-officers, and 232 reserve officers with infantry and artillery specialties will be involved in these training gatherings.

The question is which provisions of the Constitution and the law have granted the Government the authority to engage a citizen in another type of mandatory military service years after undergoing mandatory military service, involving them in combat duty?

What we have now is a need for well-trained reserve personnel or merely a specific number of 'combat personnel'. How are those reserve-listed citizens who were legally exempted or received deferments from mandatory military service in accordance with specific regulations supposed to handle this combat duty (official statements indicated that all will be included in training gatherings without exception)? Are we drafting citizens who were exempt from mandatory military service into service and assigning them combat responsibilities? (Let’s not forget that the grounds for exemption from mandatory military service and training gatherings are different, meaning a person could be exempted from mandatory military service due to family circumstances but still be subject to training gatherings, and we've spoken multiple times about re-evaluating this imbalance).

Has anyone assessed the risks posed to these citizens? Or thought about the risks presented by those citizens who have not undergone lengthy combat training?

There are also other issues concerning the rights violations of individuals involved in training gatherings, which were recorded during the tenure of Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan (2016-2022). Complaints indicate that these issues have not been fully resolved to this day.

The government must publicly clarify its goals and the real issues at hand, and must address each issue in accordance with the principles of the Constitution and the law.

The government should reevaluate its policy on conducting training gatherings in Armenia, dictated by the overriding interests of national security and human rights.

It is also difficult to underestimate the role of the National Assembly in exercising democratic oversight, which, unfortunately, is sometimes completely lacking.

The Center for Law and Justice, Tatoian Foundation, prioritizes resolving the problems facing the army and is always ready to contribute to addressing the issues in the sector within its professional capabilities and experience.