How Many Individuals Have Paid to Avoid or Reduce Mandatory Military Service

According to a law authored by MP Hayk Sargsyan of the ‘Civil Contract’ faction, citizens who are 27 years old and have not completed mandatory military service can be exempted from criminal prosecution in exchange for either serving or paying a corresponding fee.

The law provides clear monetary limits for these payments. It allows individuals aged 27 to 37 who are under investigation to avoid criminal prosecution and enter military service under the following terms:

1. 24 months of service,
2. 12 months of service and a payment of 2.5 million drams to the state budget,
3. 6 months of service and a payment of 5 million drams to the state budget,
4. 1 month of service and a payment of 10 million drams to the state budget,
5. Payment of 15 million drams to the state budget instead of military service.