Armenia eyes expanded military service with new age limit proposal

Armenia has proposed raising the age limit for compulsory military service from 27 to 37 years old, a move aimed at bolstering the country's military capacity.

The initiative was put forward by Hayk Sargsyan, an MP from the ruling Civil Contract party, Caliber.Az reports citing Armenian media.

The proposal involves amendments to Armenia's "Law on Military Service and Status of Serviceman" along with changes to the "On State Duty" and the Criminal Code of Armenia. The proposed legislation aims to address growing concerns over military readiness and personnel recruitment.

Under the new proposal, individuals up to the age of 37 would be eligible for mandatory military service, expanding the pool of potential recruits. Additionally, the proposal includes a provision that would impose a fee of 15 million drams (approximately $40,000) on men who had changed citizenship before the age of 18. This fee would allow citizens over the age of 27 to avoid criminal prosecution for evading military service.

The justification for the legislative initiative states that the purpose of the proposed amendments and accompanying government decisions is to increase the number of conscripts for compulsory military service, to prevent a significant number of male citizens from renouncing their Armenian citizenship, and to stop a large number of male citizens from evading military service until they reach the age of 37.

Explaining the motivation behind the initiative, the MP emphasized that in Armenia, citizenship is often renounced before reaching the age of 18. Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 8,721 male citizens under the age of 18 renounced their Armenian citizenship, the MP from the ruling party pointed out. In October 2023, Sargsyan introduced a legislative proposal aimed at exempting army deserters from criminal liability, provided they complete their compulsory service or pay a specified amount, a law that has already come into effect.

By Vafa Guliyeva