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It is proposed by the package of drafts to set that the citizens who has not received citizenship of the of the Republic of Armenia (RA) by the order established by law after turning 27 are subject to conscription for mandatory military service and those who have done military service in the armed forces of any state less than 12 months before receiving the RA citizenship or the ones of the male gender up to 37 years that have not completed such service, who can pay to the RA state budget two million five hundred thousand AMD instead of doing mandatory military service for 12 months and be exempted from the mandatory military service.

The deputy of the NA Civil Contract Faction Hayk Sargsyan said this, presenting for debate in the first reading the legislative package on Making Addenda and Amendment to the Military Service and the Serviceman’s Status and on Making Addendum to the RA Criminal Code authored by him at the regular sitting of the NA Standing Committee on NA Defense and Security on December 4.

It was noted that pursuant to legislation in force, the RA citizens of 18-27 years old of male gender are subject to mandatory military service in the RA Armed Forces. Punishment is imposed in the form of imprisonment by the criminal legislation for avoiding the mandatory military service. If the citizen avoids another conscription of the of military service, criminal persecution is initiated against him and relevant processes are carried out established by law. If the citizen voluntarily comes and does mandatory military service before turning 27 years, then the criminal persecution is suspended.

As the deputy assures, it is designed to give an opportunity to the citizens that have not completed mandatory military service turning 27 years to do military service, at the same time paying to the RA state budget appropriate amount of money or without doing military service, paying to the state budget appropriate amount of money, being released from criminal liability in the mentioned all cases.

The co-rapporteur, the deputy Vahagn Aleksanyan, emphasizing the adoption of the initiative, also was for the organization of the additional debates.

The RA Deputy Minister of Defense Hrachya Sargsyan presented the endorsement of the Government. According to him, the Executive proposed reservations on some issues.

The RA Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan also introduced observations on the legislative package.

The deputy Vilen Gabrielyan considered unacceptable the exemption from military service with money. He proposed the author to discuss that issue.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on NA Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan proposed the attendees to debate the problematic issues during the period from the first to the second reading.

The Deputy Chair of the Committee Armen Khachatryan presented his observation on the issue and called on his colleagues to vote for it.

As a result of comprehensive debate, the Committee members endorsed the legislative package.