Armenia to expand paid military exemption scheme to younger age group

Armenia will broaden the option to buy exemption from military service, allowing those who turn 27 after the law’s adoption to take advantage of it.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an amendment enabling individuals who reach the age of 27 after the law comes into effect to pay for the exemption, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

Previously, this option applied only to those who had turned 27 by January 2024.

The bill’s author, MP Hayk Sargsyan, noted that due to this legal “loophole,” hundreds of citizens had not returned to the country, waiting until age 37 for criminal cases to expire under the statute of limitations.

“Now the procedure will be the same for everyone,” he added.

According to Sargsyan, from February 12, 2024, to August 1, 2025, 197 citizens have already used the law, resulting in a budget revenue of 1.904 billion AMD ($4.9 million).

In October 2023, a bill was presented in parliament providing citizens aged 27–37 who had not completed military service with several alternative ways to fulfil their duty: they could choose a longer or shorter service period with a corresponding monetary payment, or pay a fixed amount to be fully exempted from service.

In January 2024, the parliament passed a law allowing citizens aged 27–37 to be exempted from service and liability for a payment under the same conditions.

A citizen aged 27–37 is allowed to undergo mandatory military service. They can serve for 12 months by paying 2.5 million AMD ($6,400); serve for 6 months by paying 5 million AMD ($12,800); serve for 1 month by paying 10 million AMD ($25,600).

There is also an option to pay 15 million AMD ($38,400) and not serve at all.

By Jeyhun Aghazada