Armenia's National Assembly on Wednesday debated a draft law calling for amendments to the law "On Military Service and Status of Servicemen".

Addressing lawmakers, head of the opposition Bright Armenia faction Edmond Marukyan said the bill proposes allowing men aged 45 and older to be enlisted in the army as contract servicemen.

He said under the current legislation, men aged 45 and over are not allowed to serve as contract soldiers.

“The bill was discussed in the Standing Committee on Defense and Security. Although the government had provided a negative opinion, the committee approved it on the condition that we discuss and accept the proposals of the committee and the government,” he said.

Edmon Marukyan noted that the draft law proposes setting the 63 years of age as the highest threshold for military service on a contractual basis, but the committee has argued that this age threshold is very high.

“We are ready to discuss any threshold above 45, for example, 55 or 58 can be set. But I think that men in border communities should be given the opportunity to defend their lands and receive a salary,” Marukyan said.

At the same time, the lawmaker said that he has not yet received proposals on the age threshold, therefore, at present, the age of 63 is indicated as a conditional upper threshold.