Over 10,000 Armenian citizens evading military service by staying abroad, MP reveals

Armenia is facing a serious conscription crisis, with over 10,000 male citizens evading military service by remaining abroad, Hayk Sargsyan, an MP from the ruling Civil Contract party, said during a meeting with journalists on May 21.

“Half of them are men under 27 years old. Today, 30–40% of eligible young men are conscripted. I think we should increase this figure to at least 50%,” Sargsyan emphasised, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

He believes that military service should be made more attractive and that the payments to servicemen should be increased.

Sargsyan once again presented his proposed legislative bill, according to which citizens over 18 years old could pay 15 million drams ($39,315) to serve 6 months or pay 20 million drams ($52,171) to serve 1 month.

According to him, many citizens avoid mandatory military service by various means, the first of which is renouncing Armenian citizenship. “From 2020 to 2024, 8,700 male citizens chose this way to resolve the issue,” Sargsyan said.

The MP noted that today the fee for renouncing citizenship is only 25,000 drams ($65,214).

“I propose to increase this amount to 15 million drams so that the number of people renouncing citizenship drastically decreases. And if, nevertheless, there are citizens willing to take this path, they will cover this shortfall through the paid sum,” the MP added.

According to the parliamentarian, more than 10,000 citizens are currently wanted for avoiding military service, and they are outside the Republic of Armenia.

By Khagan Isayev