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The draft law authored by the NA deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Hayk Sargsyan proposes to allow family members of the fallen (deceased) servicemen to be exempted from military service, regardless of whether they are the only son of the family or not.

It is important for the author to take into account the difficult psychological and social situation of the parents, who do not want to send their younger son to military service too.

On April 4, the debate of the bill in the second reading, chaired by Andranik Kocharyan, was held at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security.

The author amended the draft with a new provision: “A citizen who has the right to be exempted from compulsory military service may, according to his application, waive the right to be exempted from military service and be drafted into compulsory military service.”

4 proposals were presented after the first reading, which were not adopted by the author.

Hayk Sargsyan noted that he did not accept the proposals of his colleagues, as the draft law authored by him would solve social and moral-psychological problems. The purpose is to exempt the other sons of the families of the fallen servicemen from military service.

“These boys will stay at home, work and support their families, solving their social problems. And by taking them to the headquarters service, I do not think that the combat effectiveness of the country will increase,” the author of the bill said.

He also considered inadmissible the proposal of the Armenia Faction, according to which, the fallen serviceman’s brother (brothers) and son (sons) undergo compulsory military service in the training battalion for a period of half a year (6 months) or in rear non-combat units.

According to Hayk Sargsyan, today, many citizens do not undergo military service due to the education and are exempted from military service after turning 27.

It has been noted that the issue is universal: “If we want to take the fallen serviceman’s family member to military service in every way, then I propose to conscript those who were released on the basis of education as well. I also propose the Armenia and With Honor Factions to debate together, so that we can take the RA citizens, who have turned 27, to one-month or two-month service. I would like to underline that citizens over 27 come to our country and get the RA citizenship, but they do not serve at all. That is, the boy was born in the Russian Federation, but he is an Armenian by nationality, he waits to turn 27, he comes to Armenia and does not serve a single day.”

The author has assured that we ignore such a large number of citizens who get the RA citizenship without serving a single day.

“If today becoming a citizen of the Republic of Armenia has become a great honour and opportunity for many of our citizens, let them be kind and come and serve for at least one or two months, wear uniforms, make army friends and after that, they may not leave the homeland and understand that the Republic of Armenia is the homeland of all of us. I will start discussions on this issue in the near future,” Hayk Sargsyan.

The deputy of With Honor Faction Taguhi Tovmasyan offered to give privileges to a family member of the conscripts fallen (deceased) during military service to be exempted from compulsory military service.

Hayk Sargsyan stated that he is not against it in principle, however, if the Ministry of Defense is against it, he will abstain.

The RA Deputy Minister of Defense Arman Sargsyan did not present a view in favor of the proposal of the NA opposition deputy. He has noted that there is one provision in the scope of the bill, which exempts a family member of the serviceman fallen during non-combat actions from military service, if he is the only son.

The opposition members of the Committee did not oppose the idea or purpose of the draft law. The need for reforms of the Armed Forces was considered important.

The co-rapporteur, the Committee member Vahagn Aleksanyan called on his colleagues to vote for the legislative initiative.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan noted that the bill has a great psychological value.

As a result of debate, the draft law was endorsed.