PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL ON MAKING CHANGES TO LAW ON ALTERNATIVE MILITARY SERVICE

ArmenPress
26 Oct 2004

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian parliament approved
October 25 in the first reading a bill on making changes to the Law
on Alternative Military Service. The bill, designed by a group of
lawmakers, specifies, as deputy parliament chairman Vahan Hovhanesian
said, “the concept of alternative military service.” Under the bill
Armenians males who refuse serving in the regular armed forces have
to choose between alternative military service and alternative labor
service. Those who choose the first will perform it in the military
units and the second in hospitals, old people homes and alike.

The bill also specifies those bodies that are authorized to make
relevant decisions. Applications for alternative military service
are first considered by regional commissions and then by the national
commission.

The bill also defines exactly alternative servicemen’s duties,
responsibilities and the way their social security is ensured.