Debate on issue of payments for not serving in army postponed

ArmInfo. The discussion of the issue of buying out service in the Armenian Armed Forces has been  postponed indefinitely. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Committee Armen Khachatryan on Defense and Security Issues on May 26 at a meeting of the RA National Assembly Committee on Defense and  Security, speaking about the draft amendments to the law "On Military Service and the Status of a Serviceman".

According to him, the draft law is temporarily removed from  discussions for the purpose of its more in- depth development.

Meanwhile, as Gegham Manukyan, a member of the RA National Assembly  from the "Armenia" faction, emphasized, the opposition will do  everything possible to ensure that the issue is finally removed from  the NA agenda. According to him, it is unacceptable and dangerous  when the issue of conscription into the Armed Forces is translated  into solving problems using money.

"Everyone should serve in the army," the deputy emphasized.

At the same time, in his speech, the author of the presented  document, the NA deputy from the ruling Civil Contract faction Hayk  Sargsyan expressed hope for a quick discussion of the issue and its  submission to the RA NA in its final form in July of this year.

On May 22, the RA government issued a positive opinion on the  amendments to the law "On military service and the status of  servicemen" submitted by the deputy, with some reservations, which  Hayk Sargsyan agreed with. In particular, as a result of joint  discussions, the following proposals were formulated: 24 million  drams will have to be paid for 1 month of service, 18 million drams  for 4 months of service (only in the training unit). With the  announcement of each conscription, the government will be able to  accept the maximum number of applications for "preferential" service,  based on the needs of the Ministry of Defense. The maximum age limit  for compulsory military service is proposed to be increased from 27  to 32 years. According to the minister, the definition of 32 years of  age will apply to those who have just turned 18. "This will not  affect citizens who have already turned 19, 20, 27, 32 years old. In  other words, the regulation of the 32-year age will affect those who  have reached the draft age," the minister noted. The state duty for  renouncing Armenian citizenship before the age of 16, as proposed,  will be set at 15 million drams.