What Steps Are Taken to Avoid Mandatory Military Service: Haik Sargsyan

Haik Sargsyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party, announced that he has introduced a package of legislative amendments. During a press conference, he emphasized that the main objectives are to increase the number of recruits, enhance the attractiveness of military service, prevent migration, reduce instances of renouncing Armenian citizenship, and implement preventive mechanisms against avoiding conscription, including criminalizing refusals to undergo medical examinations to evade service.

Sargsyan analyzed the number of conscripts who have served mandatory military service over the past 20 years, highlighting the figures of those who received deferments, were exempted from conscription, and those actually drafted. He noted that only 30-40 percent of those summoned are conscripted for service.

The parliamentary member pointed out that due to the lengthy service period, the regional security environment, and several other factors, a significant number of citizens find ways to evade mandatory military service through the following methods:

1. Renouncing Armenian citizenship before reaching the age of 18. From 2020 to 2024, a total of 8,721 male citizens under 18 years old have renounced their citizenship.
2. Leaving Armenia for medical treatment, education, or other purposes and failing to return by the age of 27 or 37. The age of 37 is the limit for statute of limitations. Between 2010 and 2024, 2,500 cases filed under Article 461 of the Criminal Code, related to avoiding conscription, were closed due to the statute of limitations having expired. This means that approximately 2,500 citizens did not serve and were not held accountable.
3. Preparing documents incompatible with military service in order to gain exemption. Over 80 percent of those who received deferments or were exempted from mandatory military service were granted relief due to health issues.