Nothing Extraordinary. MoD Spokesperson on Training Gatherings

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia has commented on reports circulating in the Azerbaijani media, claiming that the ongoing 25-day training gatherings of reservists in Armenia indicate that the Armenian side is preparing for war. In response to a question from Armenpress, Aram Torosyan, the spokesperson for the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, stated that training gatherings for reservists have always been conducted in Armenia and are not extraordinary.

The Azerbaijani media frequently spreads information alleging that the 25-day training gatherings of reservists taking place in Armenia are a sign of imminent conflict preparation by Armenia. When asked how he would comment on this news, Torosyan responded, "The organization and conduct of training gatherings were established by the former law on 'Military Duty' adopted in 1991, and to this day, the laws governing the organization of defense in the Republic of Armenia specify training gatherings as a primary measure for the readiness of reservists among military- obligated citizens.

Accordingly, training gatherings have been announced long ago, first held for a three-month period, and starting from 2023, the involvement of reservists is taking place over a 25-day period, which has allowed for more efficient organization of the training sessions while causing fewer 'inconveniences' for the citizens involved in the gatherings. For this reason, the government regularly makes decisions regarding the conduct of training gatherings.

In recent years, the regularly held training gatherings have been replaced by the 25-day format for two years now; therefore, they are not new, and there is nothing extraordinary about them. The training gatherings carry no aggressive undertones and are a normal part of the ongoing reforms in the armed forces and the preparation of citizens registered in the reserves, which is characteristic of the mandatory defense organization processes in all countries.