How Many Citizens Paid 15 Million Drams to Avoid Mandatory Military Service

According to a controversial bill authored by Hayk Sargsyan, a member of the Civil Contract faction, citizens aged 27 and over who have not completed their mandatory military service may be exempt from criminal prosecution by either serving or making a corresponding payment. This information was reported by the newspaper 'Zhoghovourd'.

The law proposed by Hayk Sargsyan allows citizens aged 27 to 37 who are under investigation to be relieved from criminal prosecution and serve military service through the following means:

1. For a duration of 24 months
2. For a duration of 12 months and paying 2.5 million drams to the state budget
3. For a duration of 6 months and paying 5 million drams to the state budget
4. For a duration of 1 month and paying 8 million drams to the state budget
5. Instead of military service, paying 15 million drams to the state budget

The newspaper inquired with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia to find out how many individuals aged 27 and over have applied to the Ministry, paid the relevant amounts, and reduced their mandatory military service years. The response from the Ministry of Defense stated:

“In accordance with the requirements of part 1.1 of Article 19 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on 'Military Service and the Status of Servicemen', 67 citizens have been exempted from mandatory military service by paying 2.5 million drams to the state budget. According to part 1.2 of the same article, 71 citizens have paid 15 million drams to the state budget, of which 63 citizens are aged 27 and did not serve mandatory military or alternative service in violation of the law, and 8 did not register for military service in the established time frame.”

“As of May 5 of this year, 2 citizens have paid 2.5 million drams to the state budget and have been called up for mandatory military service for a duration of 12 months. 24 citizens have paid 8 million drams to the state budget and have been called up for mandatory military service for a duration of 1 month,” the response concluded.