Armenian government approves plan to reduce compulsory military service

On October 29, the Armenian government approved a draft law aimed at reducing the term of compulsory military service from 24 to 18 months.

The draft law, which proposes amendments to the existing legislation “On Military Service and Status of Serviceman,” will be submitted to the National Assembly for urgent consideration, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media sources.

Deputy Defence Minister Arman Sarkisyan, who presented the draft, stated that the winter conscription will begin on January 7, 2026.

The reduced 18-month service term will not apply to those who are already serving as of January 1, 2026.

The explanatory note accompanying the draft law indicates that this initiative is part of the Armenian government’s 2021–2026 program, which aims to shorten compulsory service by increasing the number of contract servicemen.

The program “Defender of the Fatherland” facilitates the transition from conscripted service to contract-based service while maintaining social and financial benefits for servicemen. The number of contract servicemen has also grown due to the graduation of professional non-commissioned officers and targeted recruitment in border villages.

Deputy Minister Sarkisyan noted that currently 4,220 individuals are serving under the contract program, contributing to the overall reduction of mandatory conscription.

By Tamilla Hasanova