Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Ministry of High-Tech Industry backtracks greenlighting sale of MTS Armenia to Cyprus firm

Emil Lazarian

 13:07, 15 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia's Ministry of High-Tech Industry has apparently reconsidered its earlier decision approving the sale of MTS Armenia, prompting the national regulator to convene a meeting to discuss the matter during a session on January 17.

The agenda of the January 17 meeting of the Public Services Regulatory Commission includes the item on rejecting the sale of MTS Armenia.

The regulator has explained its move by saying that the Armenian High-Tech Industry Ministry has objected to the sale, backtracking its earlier position. Such transactions require approval of relevant government agencies. 

The Cyprus-registered Fedilco Group Limited, which seeks to acquire 100% of shares of MTS Armenia, requested permission to make the deal again in April 2023 but was rejected due to objections by the National Security Service.

Leading International Arbitration GAR Journal published an article about the Armenian AMCA

Emil Lazarian

 14:02, 15 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. GAR (Global Arbitration Review), the leading international arbitration journal and news service, published an article about the Arbitration and Mediation Centre of Armenia (AMCA) and its recent developments.

The spotlight of the article is on the adoption of the Arbitration Rules of AMCA on the 27th of November, just several months after its establishment. The article further elaborates that the rules were developed with the input of the AMCA’s Arbitration Council, which operates in a similar manner to the ICC Court.  An independent arbitrator Grant Hanessian, who is serving as the chair of the Arbitration Council, in his interview with the GAR mentioned:

“Armenia is firmly committed to the rule of law, both domestically and internationally, and with AMCA now has a state-of-the-art arbitration and mediation center and rules to facilitate the efficient and effective resolution of commercial and investment disputes.”  “I am very honoured to be part of this project.” 

The Council also includes such prominent experts, as Rafik Grigoryan (“Sigma Law” company); Andrea Carlevaris (“BonelliErede” company); Ara Khzmalyan (“Adwise” company); Aida Avanesyan (Arbitrators’ Association of Armenia); Artyom Geghamyan (“Tabia Legal Solutions” company); Galina Zukova (Zukova Legal); England and Wales-qualified solicitor Hayk Kupeliants; Hayk Hovhannisyan  (“HAP” Law Firm); and  Tomas Snider (head of international arbitration at Charles Russell Speechlys). 

The article of the GAR concludes by the comment made by the AMCA director and secretary-general Tatevik Matinyan and deputy director Lilit Petrosyan “the Arbitration Rules reflect global best practices and pave the way for Armenia to be a favourable seat of arbitration, where disputes are settled efficiently, quickly and professionally".

AYP FM mobilizes for Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian
Jan 15 2024
by Emmanuelle Pautler 

PARIS — AYP FM, the voice of Armenia, supported by the French Armenian diaspora, has been broadcasting since 1993 on the 99.5 MHz frequency, which it shares with France Maghreb, on DAB+ in Paris and Marseille, and online.

Based in the Paris suburb of Alfortville, where 10% of the local population is Armenian, AYP FM added IP in 2021 while modernizing its studios. The station operates with five permanent employees and some 30 volunteers of Armenian background from all generations. Its objective is to promote the Armenian cultural heritage.

The station is subsidized by the Fonds de soutien à l’_expression_ radiophonique locale (FSER), a support fund founded by the French Ministry of Culture to support local radio; with a maximum advertising limit of 20%. The current economic crisis is impacting its income, as is the increase of advertising on social networks, and slowing its development.

The primary purpose of AYP FM — to support and cover events within the French Armenian community — has evolved during the dramatic events in the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan

Intensifying its editorial mission for Armenia

AYP FM is a “trilingual” radio station — in addition to French, it broadcasts in Eastern Armenian (the language of today’s Armenia, developed in the country and the former USSR) and Western Armenian (the language of the 1915 genocide survivors and the diaspora). For Henri Papazian, the station’s president and an engineer by training, the language mix is important for Armenia’s living memory, “We must preserve this balance, this Western language, and this spelling, in which most of our cultural archives were developed.”

The primary purpose of AYP FM — to support and cover events within the French Armenian community — has evolved during the dramatic events in the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. “It is a real ethnic cleansing,” deplores Papazian, adding, “100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh were persecuted and chased off their land and had to escape within 48 hours. During nine months of a total blockade in the region, the only humanitarian corridor between Armenia and Karabakh was closed by the Azeris; the population was hungry and threatened.”

Papazian says that many people want to take part in the station’s on-air programs, by telephone and video, to talk with people living in Armenia and other countries of the diaspora. “We have a strong community in France — it is the third-largest after Russia and the U.S. We have been working a lot with the French government (President Emmanuel Macron’s office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and we have struck a chord,” he adds.

AYP FM also broadcasts video programs on social media networks. It has installed the necessary setup for visual radio and recruited a specialized video reporter. “We now actively use social media networks, from which we were previously largely absent. We also cover public events of the Armenian community in France by video, which we broadcast on social networks, and which the Armenian community can follow,” says Papazian.

Adapting programs to the situation

The staff at AYP FM cover news of what is happening in Armenia using information collected from Armenian daily newspapers and broadcasts information in French and Armenian: Four daily reports of 8–10 minutes in Armenian and three in French, covering the same themes but with a different approach. They also broadcast weekly news reports of 15 to 20 minutes, one in Armenian and the other in French, about the events of the past week.

“We also have specialized programs, such as our flagship program ‘Cartes sur table’ on Saturday mornings,” says Papazian. “Originally designed as a debate and discussion program with personalities and figures from diverse artistic, cultural and political points of view, this one-and-a-half-hour program has recently focused on the situation in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, featuring interviews with political figures. Our listeners eagerly await these debates and exchanges. Historians specializing in genocides have reached out and spoken on the program. We recently featured — on-air and across social media — an exclusive interview with Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the former first prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.”

Digitization and connections — major assets

AYP FM completely modernized its studios in 2021. Broadcast-associés installed and integrated new media-over-IP equipment to provide better visibility and expanded functionality with the aim of reaching a broader generation base.

The station now boasts a completely digital broadcast infrastructure to facilitate switching between studios, including Axia touch consoles from equipment integrator IP Studio, along with RCS GSelector scheduling and Zetta automation software systems. The visual radio studio features three small wide-angle HD cameras, specialized LED lighting for the guest set and video screens to enable live broadcasts on social networks and online.

As a result, AYP FM’s audio and video programs reach across the world, especially to the Armenian diaspora in 30 countries, including Russia, United States, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Lebanon, Iran, Argentina, Uruguay and Australia.

AYP FM has expanded its reach to have the cause of the persecuted Armenian people in the Caucasus heard. With its team, the commitment of its director Henri Papazian and its digital broadcast tools, it carries the voice of the Armenians of France far away.

The author has worked in the radio industry for over 30 years. She has held posts as both a producer and presenter for French stations, such as Radio Notre Dame and Radio France’s France Culture. In addition to being involved with academic research and EU consulting in Brussels, she specializes in print.

https://www.redtech.pro/ayp-fm-mobilizes-for-nagorno-karabakh/amp/ 

Armenian film makes Oscar shortlist for first time By Sarah Mills

Emil Lazarian
Reuters
Jan 15 2024
By Sarah Mills

Jan 15 (Reuters) – A heart-warming story of a man jailed for wearing a tie has become the first Armenian film to make it onto the Oscar's shortlist, in the international feature category.

"Most of the films that have been made about Armenia really tend to revolve around the genocide. I wanted to make a film that would be enjoyable for Armenians and something that could relate to non-Armenians," said U.S. actor Michael A. Goorjian, who has directed and written the film. He also stars in it.

Shot in Armenia with a mostly local cast and crew, "Amerikatsi" (American in Armenian) is also an attempt to rebuild the country's film industry, which lost its way after independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

"What the film is about is survival and resilience. Despite the setting, it's very hopeful and playful," said Goorjian, whose late father was Armenian.

It tells the story of Charlie, an American who repatriates to then Soviet Armenia after World War Two and finds himself in prison because of his tie.

From his cell, Charlie realises he can see inside an apartment nearby and lives vicariously through the life of the couple there.

Making the film was itself a test of resourcefulness.

Filming, interrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, took about seven months to complete, wrapping in July 2020 as border clashes broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"We had cast and crew that went and fought in that war. And so it was a challenge to make this film for sure. But all the obstacles we faced, I would say actually made it a better film," Goorjian said.

As international tensions and economic downturn dominate the headlines, "Amerikatsi", which premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2022, has tapped into a human need for positivity.

"I've found with the film, people come up to me all the time and say 'I miss feeling this way after a movie, feeling good'," Goorjian said.

He will find out if "Amerikatsi" has made it from the shortlist and onto the 2024 Academy Awards nominations on Jan. 23.

Reporting by Sarah Mills; editing by Barbara Lewis

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/armenian-film-makes-oscar-shortlist-first-time-2024-01-15/

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https://theprint.in/entertainment/armenian-film-makes-oscar-shortlist-for-first-time/1924415/
https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/an-armenian-film-makes-oscars-shortlist-for-first-time/article67742864.ece

A Life in One Suitcase։ The Karabakh Armenians Who Continued Onward to Russia

Emil Lazarian
Jan 15 2024
By Arpine Hovhannisian

Jan. 15, 2024

“My entire life is packed in this one suitcase,” a man said as he boarded a minivan from Goris, southern Armenia, to the capital Yerevan amid the mass exodus of the ethnic Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh. 

The man, 70-year-old Armen from Stepanakert, who had just arrived in Goris, shared his last days in Karabakh and future plans with the minibus driver. After a 90-kilometer journey lasting 30 hours due to a traffic jam of fleeing cars, he was en route to the Armenian capital. 

However, Yerevan was not his final destination. In two days, he would arrive in Moscow to reunite with his daughter.

“Do I need Moscow?” he asked the driver before answering his own question: “Certainly not. I am leaving for Moscow to be with my daughter in my final days.”

Over 100,000 ethnic Armenians were uprooted by Azerbaijan’s swift takeover of the breakaway enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh last fall. The seizure soured ties between Yerevan and its longtime security guarantor Moscow, whose peacekeepers did little to intervene.

But rather than settle in Armenia, many of the Karabakh evacuees have chosen Russia as their final destination, driven by family bonds and connections as well as economic realities. 

According to former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Artak Beglaryan, about 10,000 of the displaced Karabakh Armenians had left Armenia by mid-October and settled abroad. Many chose Russia due to personal ties and familiarity with the country. 

NEWSREAD MORE

No further data has been published on the displaced population’s departure from Armenia.

During an Oct. 23 cabinet session, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that there was no significant immigration among people forcibly displaced from Karabakh compared to the initial months after displacement. 

Gagik Khachatryan, 49, is from the village of Chartar in Karabakh’s Martuni region. He is among the displaced Armenians who decided to head to Russia as soon as possible. 

"I just don’t see any other way," he said, pointing to the lack of housing and work opportunities in Armenia.

Gagik is a veteran of the first Karabakh war in 1992, having defended his hometown Martuni when he was just 18. After he was seriously injured in the war, he underwent therapy sessions at the Zinvori Tun rehabilitation center in Yerevan, which hosted him again three decades later after he lost his home and had nowhere to live.

Soon after arriving in Armenia proper, Karabakh evacuees discovered that local rents and the cost of living had surged after the 2022 influx of Russian migrants — complicating their decision-making regarding their future.

To assist the refugee population, the Armenian government created a "temporary protected status" for displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh. Individuals in Armenia or abroad whose last registered address was in Nagorno-Karabakh are eligible for this status. 

Gagik was provided with a hotel room in the town of Abovyan not far from Yerevan.

Another option offered by the government is obtaining Armenian citizenship. Many, like Gagik, always assumed they were citizens of Armenia, as they hold Armenian passports.

The only thing stopping Gagik from leaving earlier was problems with his documents. Amid the chaos and uncertainty, he had left behind his documents, along with his car and other belongings, in Chartar. His driver's license and lost birth certificate needed to be renewed. 

What Gagik found most important to bring with him was the soil from the tombs of his loved ones — his father and grandparents. 

"I hope to create a small tomb for them wherever I settle, as I want to have a part of them close to me wherever I go," he explained. He displayed the rest of the belongings he managed to bring: photos of loved ones, certificates of ownership of his newly renovated house, and some winter clothes. 

"That’s all I could fit in this one suitcase," he smiled. "Even these clothes I’m wearing now were provided at the rehabilitation center where I initially stayed for three weeks."

In Russia, where his mother and sisters settled long ago, he plans to work in agriculture and grow vegetables for a living. 

When asked if he had any fears about moving to a country at war given Russia's war in Ukraine, Gagik replied: "War follows me everywhere. A conflict erupted in Armenia as we arrived in Jermuk [a border town in southern Armenia] with my daughter in September 2022. 

“In the morning, we saw only Karabakh Armenians were still there in Jermuk, together with the employees. Even my 17-year-old daughter wasn’t scared. We’re used to it.”

He hopes to start a new life in a village near Moscow and bring his daughters, who currently live with his ex-wife, to Russia as well. 

"We have nothing here, no home, no work. I think life will be better for us there."

"We decided to go to Russia very hastily, in just a few days," said Astghik Hayrapetyan, 30, a single mother from the village of Khnatsakh in Askeran, Nagorno-Karabakh. She lost her husband, Sergei, to a heart attack in May 2023. 

She and her two daughters, aged 2 and 6, left Armenia on Nov. 8. They have settled down in Mikhailovsk, a town in the Stavropol region where her uncle resides. With support from her relatives, Hayrapetyan hopes to find a job to provide for her family.

"Many Karabakh Armenians have moved to Russia to work and get back on their feet. I know five families of friends who are spread all over Russia — Krasnodar, Pyatigorsk, Stavropol, and many more cities," she said. 

She also recounted multiple instances when fathers of families sought job opportunities in Russia due to insufficient wages in Armenia.

"I found a job offering only 80,000 drams ($200), while most apartments in Yerevan are priced [starting at] around 250,000 drams ($600)," Astghik told us.

The Armenian government provided support for Karabakh Armenians through a one-time payment of 100,000 drams ($250) per person, which her younger daughter didn’t receive due to issues with her registration address.

Moreover, the government is offering monthly assistance of 40,000 drams ($100) to cover accommodation costs, with an additional 10,000 drams ($25) allocated for utility expenses per individual, a duration of six months.

"I couldn’t obtain the military pension for my late husband; there was no clarity on whether or when we would receive it. I got tired of it all and decided to leave with my brothers and their families," she recalled.

Astghik said her older daughter doesn’t want to go to school in Russia. 

"She misses Karabakh, our dialect, and doesn't want to learn a new language," she says.

Nonetheless, Astghik tries to hold onto the hope that one day she will return to Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenians call Artsakh.

"Residing outside of Armenia distances us even more from the possibility of ever returning to Artsakh." 

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/01/15/a-life-in-one-suitcase-the-karabakh-armenians-who-continued-onward-to-russia-a83728

Armenia envisions a world strengthened by global cooperation – President promotes Crossroads of Peace in Davos 2024

Emil Lazarian

 15:02, 15 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. President Vahagn Khachaturyan is promoting the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace project at the World Economic Forum.

The Armenian President arrived in Switzerland on Monday to participate in Davos 2024. Ahead of the meeting, the Armenian President’s article on Crossroads of Peace was published by the World Economic Forum.

Below is the full article as published by WEF.

“As President of Armenia, I am serving a nation that has weathered historical storms, emerged resilient: adapted to reality and learned to survive.

“In the context of today's complex geopolitical shifts and the globally fragmented policy landscape, Armenia envisions a world strengthened by global cooperation in the framework of renewed and effective multilateralism.

“Here I outline Armenia's strategic initiatives, including the Crossroads of Peace project, which addresses the importance of acknowledging the cost of crises, advocates for building peace through trust, and explores how genuine democracy and technological innovation can be transformative and how mutually they protect and embolden each other.

“Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of economic cooperation and shared values in the new world order. Drawing inspiration from the biblical tale of Noah's Ark, Armenia's metaphor serves as a reminder to humanity of the importance of peaceful coexistence, hope, and joint efforts to confront global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, armed conflicts and humanitarian crises.

Economic cooperation in the evolving world order

“Economic cooperation stands as a linchpin for global stability, security and prosperity. Armenia, with its skilled workforce and commitment to sustainable development is well-positioned to play an instrumental role in the emerging economic landscape.

“Recognition of the importance of fostering economic ties that go beyond national borders – from regional to global, promoting responsible business practices, and contributing to worldwide economic growth is a key for global stability.

“In the spirit of cooperation, we actively seek opportunities for trade, investment and partnership with other nations worldwide. By aligning economic interests with shared values, we aim to contribute to a more interconnected and agile world by prioritizing sustainability, innovation and inclusivity, fostering economic relationships that benefit not only our nation but also the global community.

Democracy and technology as transformative forces

“In the evolving world order, liberty, democratic institutions and innovation emerge as powerful tools to address global challenges and navigate geopolitical shifts.

“Democracy, with its emphasis on inclusivity and consolidated decision-making, provides a framework for nations to come together. Technological innovation, when wielded responsibly, has the potential to empower individuals and nations to overcome challenges and foster positive change.

“Armenia is committed to upholding democratic values and leveraging innovation as tools for positive change. Recognizing the potential of "liberation technology", we aim to empower citizens, promote their social and economic rights, enhance good governance, transparency and promote accountability.

“By harnessing the power of digital innovation, Armenia seeks to create an environment where democracy flourishes, and technology becomes a force for good in addressing global challenges.

Armenia's commitment to building lasting peace

“The 21st century has seen the world grapple with crises, from pandemics to environmental challenges, and the recognition of the cost of crisis is not merely economic; it is also human and environmental.

“In the times of the current polycrisis and in light of unprecedented interdependence and evolving changes of the world order, one nation's crisis is a challenge for all. As we navigate these challenges, building peace through trust becomes paramount.

“Acknowledging the cost of crises and the importance of addressing them with resilience and determination must become an imperative. The recent conflict and forced displacement of persons in the South Caucasus serves as a stark reminder of the impact of geopolitical shifts on civilians.

“However, Armenia is committed to turning the aftermath of the crisis into an opportunity for building lasting peace and promoting regional cooperation.

“The Crossroads of Peace project, initiated by the Government of Armenia, places a significant emphasis on building mutual trust as the foundation for peace. By actively engaging with neighbours and international partners, Armenia seeks to rebuild new cooperation in the region and foster understanding among nations.

“Through diplomatic initiatives, dialogue, and cultural exchange, we aspire to bridge divides and create an environment where nations can work together to confront global challenges.

Principles of Armenia's Crossroads of Peace project

“Armenia, with its rich history and strategic location, has launched the Crossroads of Peace project as a testament to its commitment to global cooperation.

“This visionary initiative aims to transform the region into a hub for a political dialogue, cultural exchange and international cooperation. It seeks to transcend traditional geopolitical divisions, fostering an environment where nations can converge to jointly address common challenges.

“The Crossroads of Peace has the potential to transform a fragmented region with closed borders into a macro-regional cooperation hub, to unleash the whole potential of the Caucasus, tout court.

“The biblical tale of Noah's Ark serves as a powerful metaphor for our collective journey in the face of global challenges, including climate change. Armenia, with its legacy of resilience and hope, aligns with the spirit of Noah's Ark, symbolizing a modern-day ark for humanity.

“The ark is a timeless symbol of survival, peaceful coexistence, and renewal. Armenia, too, envisions itself as a symbol of hope by fostering global cooperation, acknowledging the cost of crises, building peace through trust, championing democracy and innovation, and promoting value-based economic cooperation.

“Armenia strives to be a beacon of hope in a multipolar world. At the crossroads of history, we urge for strengthened global cooperation as we navigate geopolitical shifts in an evolving world order.

“The Crossroads of Peace project, inspired by our commitment to peace and partnership, exemplifies Armenia's vision for a more interconnected world where nations are united in the face of global challenges.

“In the spirit of Noah's Ark, let us embark on this collective journey, keeping hope alive and working together for a sustainable and harmonious future.”

Exchange of proposals on peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues, says Speaker Alen Simonyan

Emil Lazarian

 15:54, 15 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The exchange of proposals on a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan has said.

Asked to comment on the Armenian response to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest rhetoric, Simonyan said that nothing “drastic” has happened. He did however note that Aliyev’s rhetoric is sometimes detached from the logic of the negotiations.

 Speaking about the possible peace treaty, Simonyan said that all clauses of the would-be treaty will concern both sides. “There’s not a single thing in the draft treaty that would concern only one party. For example, when we talk about pulling back the troops, we are talking about a mirror [reciprocal] withdrawal. All narratives concern both Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Simonyan said.

Asked to comment on the Azerbaijani statements regarding the so-called Zangezur corridor, the Speaker reiterated that the draft peace treaty doesn’t include any clause on an extraterritorial corridor.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 15-01-24

Emil Lazarian

 17:23, 15 January 2024

YEREVAN, 15 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 15 January, USD exchange rate up by 0.14 drams to 405.49 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.53 drams to 443.65 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 4.64 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.71 drams to 516.27 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 354.61 drams to 26799.11 drams. Silver price up by 0.43 drams to 300.56 drams.

Parliament adopts exoneration options for draft evaders

Emil Lazarian

 10:50, 16 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. The contentious legislation seeking to introduce several options for draft evaders for exoneration was adopted by parliament on Tuesday. The bill passed with 61 votes in favor, 27 against and 6 abstentions.

The legislation is authored by MP Hayk Sargsyan from the Civil Contract party.

Men who’ve evaded mandatory military service and are above the conscription age limit (27) are prosecuted and could face a prison term of up to 5 years under the current regulations.

Under current law, draft evaders who are now above the age of 27 can’t serve in the military even if they wanted to and they certainly face criminal prosecution.  

MP Hayk Sargsyan from the ruling Civil Contract party drafted a bill that would give draft dodgers the option to have their criminal charges dropped by either enlisting into the armed forces and serving a full 2-year term, or serving a 1-year term and paying 2,5 million drams, or serving for 6 months and paying 5 million drams, or serving 1 month and paying 8 million drams, or not serving at all and paying 15 million drams to the government.

Men above the age of 27 who would obtain Armenian citizenship will also be eligible for mandatory military service and will only have the opportunity to use option 2 (serving a 1-year term and paying 2,5 million drams) if applicable.

According to Sargsyan, today there are over 10,000 fugitives on charges of draft evasion. Over 5,000 of them are above the age of 27.

Most of them are abroad and do not return to Armenia in order to avoid imprisonment. Sargsyan argued that if his bill wasn't adopted the draft evaders who are now abroad would wait until they are above the age of 37 to return to be cleared of the charges on the basis of statute of limitations.

Sargsyan said earlier at a parliamentary debate that the legislation seeks to give those who haven’t served and are now wanted the opportunity to be useful to their country.

“I wouldn’t want us to ever declare amnesty for these people again,” he said, referring to a 2021 amnesty declared by the Armenian parliament which cleared of criminal charges over 1300 draft evaders. “But I also wouldn’t want to sentence five thousand citizens to five years in prison, because by doing so, not only wouldn’t our country benefit, but we’d spend a lot of money on finding, sentencing and detaining them,” Sargsyan said.

“That’s what this legislation is about, to give these people the chance to be useful to their country, instead of becoming a burden.”

Multiple men would repatriate to Armenia if the bill passes parliament, according to the MP.