Armenia to shorten mandatory military service from 24 to 18 months

ArmInfo.  In Armenia, the mandatory military service term will be shortened from 24 months to 18 months. During its December 15 meeting, the National Assembly  Committee on Security and Defense approved the amendments to the Law  "On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen," submitted by the  RA government for the second reading.

According to RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, no new proposals  were submitted by either the NA members or the government for the  second reading. The Minister noted that all provisions related to the  reduction in military service will start with January 1, 2026, and  the military service term itself will begin from January 7. The  changes will  apply to new draftees only.

Papikyan stated that the reduction in service terms is the result of  efforts to make military service more attractive. This includes, in  particular, the continuation of the " Defender of the Fatherland "  program, certification of service members, the introduction of a  professional sergeant system, and other measures, which have made it  possible to offset the balance of rank-and-file soldiers by  increasing the number of contract soldiers. Regarding the expected  number of conscripts, Papikyan declined to disclose a figure, citing  a state secret. The Minister only mentioned an annual positive  balance between those called up for active military service and those  demobilized, which exceeds 1,000 personnel. Papikyan emphasized that  the country's authorities are striving to build armed forces that are  at the highest level of preparedness and equipment.

National Assembly Member Gegham Manukyan, from the opposition  "Armenia" faction, raised the issue of the document's inconsistency  with other legislative acts. He specifically pointed out the law,  that allows all draft dodgers to pay a certain amount and be exempt  from military service or to undergo a simplified procedure. In this  regard, the parliamentarian raised the question of how many months  these individuals would serve.

In response, the head of the defense ministry noted that the Armenian  government had approved the legislative initiative of MP Hayk  Sargsyan, and the issue could be discussed during parliamentary  debates.