Talks About the Reduction in Military Personnel Do Not Correspond to Reality: Papikyan

During the discussions in the National Assembly on the proposed reduction of the mandatory military service period, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated that claims regarding a reduction in military personnel do not reflect reality.

The minister explained: "In 1.5 years, we will still conscript the same number of people into the army, they will just serve for 1.5 years. After 1.5 years, two groups of conscripts who have not signed contracts will be discharged, and another 1.5 years later, all four groups will again be present in the army, simply serving for 1.5 years."

Papikyan added that when people say the army is being reduced, “that’s just nonsense, it’s not complicated.” He emphasized: “It’s a simple calculation; I’m not distorting anything.”