The Son of the Vice President of FFA Released from Military Service but Absent in Football Life

According to the newspaper “Zhoghhovurd,” the son of Armen Nikoghosyan, the vice president of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) and a former journalist for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s family newspaper, has not served in the military. This information was confirmed to “Zhoghhovurd” by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.

On February 14, “Zhoghhovurd” sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Defense addressed to Suren Papikyan, asking: “ArmLur.am has reported that the son of FFA vice president Armen Nikoghosyan, Edgar Armeni Nikoghosyan (born on July 23, 1995, registered address: Yerevan, Demirchyan St. 17A 15) has been released from mandatory military service on the grounds of continuing a football career, however, we have not seen him active in football later on. On what grounds was Edgar Nikoghosyan exempted from service? Since 2018, when the exemption documents of many officials’ sons began to be scrutinized, has the fact of Armen Nikoghosyan’s son’s exemption been verified? If not, why?”

In response, the Ministry of Defense stated, “Nikoghosyan has been released from mandatory military service in accordance with the law.” However, when asked for the specific grounds for his exemption, the Ministry declined to answer, citing the Law on Personal Data Protection.

Did Edgar Nikoghosyan, who turned 18 in 2013, actually have a football career? We searched for information but found none. We called his father, Armen Nikoghosyan, who refused to speak with us. Thus, we could not clarify the basis on which his son was released from military service, why he has not pursued football subsequently, and most importantly, through whom his son was exempted from service.

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