ArmInfo. In Armenia, citizens between the ages of 27 and 35 may be exempt from criminal liability for evading military service if they meet one of five conditions. At its January 16 session, the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee approved amendments to the law "On Military Service" and the status of servicemen, submitted in the first reading by Hayk Sargsyan, a member of parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction.
According to Hayk Sargsyan, approximately two years have passed since the law on citizens who have not completed military service was adopted. Currently, more than 1,200 compatriots who have reached the age of 27, reside abroad, and are under investigation for military service, and are not returning to Armenia, as they have no choice but to be imprisoned for terms of 2 to 5 years.
The speaker explained that the average cost of incarcerating one person in correctional facilities is 437,900 drams. If returnees are sentenced to three years in prison, the state budget will have to spend 15,764,400 drams per person. In other words, if 1,200 citizens voluntarily return and are sentenced, the state will have to spend approximately 19 billion drams on their incarceration alone. According to the MP, the adoption of this bill will benefit both the state and its compatriots.
Hayk Sargsyan proposed five solutions to the problem. Draft dodgers could return and serve for 24 months, free from criminal prosecution, serve 12 months with a fine of 2.5 million drams, serve six months with a fine of 5 million drams, serve one month with a fine of 10 million drams, or serve 15 million drams instead of military service.
During the Q&A, Hayk Sargsyan noted that although the current law stipulates a military service period of 18 months, since this law applies to those born in 1999 and 2000, who were required to serve 24 months, they must serve the same period. This would ensure fairness for those who served during those years.
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