NUMBER OF YOUNG MEN RETURNING TO ARMENIA TO DO MILITARY SERVICE IS ON INCREASE

Noyan Tapan

Se p 26, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. During the last conscription,
about 300 young Armenians from abroad were conscripted into the
fixed-period military service, the head of the Legal Department of
the RA Ministry of Defence Sedrak Sedrakian stated at the September 25
press conference. According to him, quite a lot of young men returned
to Armenia in recent years: previously they used to return from Russia
to serve in the army, whereas now there are also young men from other
countries, including European ones.

S. Sedrakian said that those young men of the call-up age, who intend
to return to Armenia or receive their passports, apply through their
relatives to the law enforcement body or the military registration
and enlistment office of their former place of residence, informing
them about their intention to return and do military service in
Armenia. After their return, the criminal cases against them are
quashed and they are given the opportunity to serve in the army.

S. Sedrakian informed those present that under the law in force since
2004, the young men who reached the age of 27 have the right not to
be subjected to criminal responsibility by paying a fixed sun to the
state. Since 2004, 2 billion 300 million drams has been transfered
to the state budget. Young men shall pay 10 thousand drams to avoid
each conscription, their presence is not mandatory and the procedure
may be implemented by their relatives. S.

Sedrakian said that the law applies only to young men who were aged 27
and over before October 31, 2007. However, several NGOs have requested
to extend this period, and the issue is being discussed now.

In the words of the chairwoman of "Mother of Soldier" NGO Greta
Mirzoyan, the number of those willing to do military service in
homeland would have been greater, if the young men who live abroad
had been better informed about the details of this process. The NGO
assists young men with their problems related to receiving information
and returning to homeland. With the support of the NGO, nearly 100
young men who returned from abroad have been conscripted into the
Armenian army in the past two years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress