Draft evasion — “shameful phenomena” in Armenian society, defence chief says

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has announced large-scale efforts to curb military service evasion, describing the widespread practice of exempting sons from the army as “one of the most shameful phenomena” in society.

Speaking at a press conference on January 13, Papikyan said that in recent years a deeply rooted and system-distorting tradition has taken hold, with parents seeking to free their children from military service by any means, including fraud and corruption schemes, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

“Every parent is ready to sell everything and resort to any trick just to exempt their son from the army. At some point, this even came to be seen as a marker of social status. I consider this the most shameful phenomenon in our society,” Papikyan said.

The minister noted that over the past year, all employees within Armenia’s Ministry of Defence whose children are citizens of other countries have either been dismissed or forced to resign. “I cannot extend this approach to those whose children have illnesses — the presumption of innocence applies. However, a seed of doubt compels me to remain vigilant even in such cases,” he added.

Papikyan stressed that the issue is a societal one and cannot be treated as a personal initiative of the ministry. “This is not only my problem — it is your problem as well,” he said. He also specifically addressed media representatives, urging them to view draft evasion as a matter of national security.

“Even if you are an opposition outlet that criticises me every day — if you become my ally on this issue and provide information, I will be your partner. Because I cannot tolerate such things,” the minister said.

Papikyan identified the use of fraudulent medical diagnoses as one of the main methods of evading service, citing the previously widespread exemption based on a diagnosis of a “brain cyst.” “This is a well-known condition that was once in the spotlight. But as technology developed, the schemes became even more sophisticated, with the slightest abnormalities recorded to obtain exemptions,” he noted.

According to the minister, closing such loopholes has allowed the conscription of hundreds of healthy young men, significantly affecting draft statistics. He added that government regulations managing the list of illnesses qualifying for exemption from service are reviewed annually.

“Sometimes, a condition that previously led to mass exemptions decreases by 80 per cent within a year. That does not mean everyone suddenly recovered. It means there was a loophole, and we closed it,” Papikyan said.

By Khagan Isayev