Gagik Melkonyan on Buying Your Way Out of Military Service

“Is it fair to buy your way out of the army? Who will defend our homeland?” asked a reporter in the National Assembly hallway, directing the question to Gagik Melkonyan, a member of the CP faction.

The lawmaker responded, “We are concerned and discussing it; the discussions are ongoing. Our homeland belongs to all of us, and we all have an obligation to serve.” In response to the question, “Would you pay to exempt your grandchildren from military service?” the lawmaker said, “No.”

It’s worth noting that the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, Suren Papikyan, is holding a closed meeting with members of the CP in the National Assembly, where they are discussing CP MP Hayk Sargsyan's proposal regarding short-term military service for a fee.