Volunteer Will Also Be Subject to Crimes Against Military Service Regulations

MP Alkhas Ghazaryan has proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and the Law on Defense. According to a statement from the National Assembly, the new regulation will establish that individuals involved in the defense of Armenia on a voluntary basis, as per the Law on Defense, will also be considered subjects of crimes against military service regulations during the performance of their military duties.

“This refers to reservists who are involved in both combat duty and executing combat tasks. Often, during the performance of these tasks, they refuse to fulfill their obligations or violate military service regulations in various ways. Since reservists are not currently considered subjects of crimes against military service regulations, it has been impossible to hold them criminally liable,” the MP stated during the presentation of the issue at the second reading in the Permanent Commission on State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly.

It was noted that there were no proposals during the transition from the first to the second reading. In a related report, MP Arpine Davoyan emphasized the importance of the amendment and recommended voting in favor. Ara Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Justice, also announced the Government's positive stance on the issue.

Arzvik Minasyan, secretary of the “Hayastan” faction, expressed concern about issues in both the legal contractual relationship sphere and the effective implementation of this institution within the armed forces.

Commission Chairman Vladimir Vardanyan pointed out that it is crucial to maintain clear military discipline across all areas for the armed forces, as well as uniform responsibility. “If we hold an 18-year-old soldier in military service accountable, for instance, for drug use, it would be illogical to exempt a more mature individual who has joined the armed forces voluntarily from such liability,” he stated.

The issue received a positive conclusion from the committee.