Any social stratification in Armenia is unacceptable: human rights defender on the scandalous draft law on military service

YEREVAN, May 29. /ARKA/. Armenian human rights defender  Anahit Manasyan, commenting on the draft law on military service that has caused heated discussions, considered any social stratification in Armenia unacceptable.

On May 22, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law that provides for the reduction of the term of compulsory military service in the Armenian Armed Forces from the current 2 years to 1 year or 6 months in exchange for pay. It was supposed to be discussed at a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security on May 26, but was removed from the agenda.

“I am concerned that this draft contains serious problems with the principle of prohibition of discrimination. “Any social stratification in our country, which may be related, among other things, to the obligations established by the Constitution, is unacceptable and inadmissible,” Manasyan said at a briefing on Thursday.

According to her, it is impossible to provide for legal regulations and mechanisms in the country that, at least in terms of public perception, can create the impression among people that a benefit related to any obligation can be conditioned by a person’s financial status.

“That is, the circumstance of having money or not. We know that hazing is widespread in the army, and from this point of view, the risks have not been sufficiently assessed and calculated,” Manasyan noted.

The legislative package developed on January 16, 2024, provides for amendments to the laws “On Military Service and the Status of a Serviceman,” “On State Duty,” and the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. It is proposed to establish the possibility of compulsory military service for a period of less than 24 months, with the payment to the state budget of 20 million drams for service for 1 month, 15 million drams for six months. ($1 - 384.36 drams) -0-