Armenia tightens medical exemptions for military conscription

The Armenian government has decided to narrow the list of illnesses and medical conditions that allow conscripts to be exempted from compulsory military service.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Armenian media, the decision was approved during a Cabinet meeting held on December 25.

Under the adopted resolution, conditions that do not require medical treatment or do not pose a serious risk to health will be excluded from the exemption list. In a number of cases, individuals with such diagnoses will instead be classified as fit for service with certain restrictions.

The changes also предусматривают a clarification of medical examination procedures for venous angiomas of the brain and spinal cord, with the aim of more precisely determining a conscript’s suitability for service.

Exemptions will no longer be granted for benign thyroid dysfunctions that do not require treatment and do not cause significant symptoms. The same approach will apply to several mild blood disorders, including certain forms of thalassemia that are not accompanied by severe symptoms, as well as to some abnormalities related to the structure and functioning of the heart.

In addition, diaphragmatic hernias that are not associated with further complications will be removed from the list of conditions granting exemption from service.

The explanatory note to the decision states that the amendments are based on the experience of a number of countries with mandatory military service, including Israel and Austria.

By Tamilla Hasanova