Armenia plans to reduce the length of compulsory military service
24.11.2025,
12:09
The Armenian Defense Minister proposed amendments to the Law "On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen," which would reduce the length of compulsory military service for privates to 18 months instead of 24.
YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. The Armenian Defense Minister proposed amendments to the Law "On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen," which would reduce the length of compulsory military service for privates to 18 months instead of 24.
"This decision will come into force after January 1, 2026, and will apply to conscripts. As part of the winter draft, the process of recruiting for the Armed Forces will begin on January 7, 2026," Papikyan said during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defense and Security on Monday.
According to him, the reduction in the length of military service does not apply to previously conscripted servicemen.
"The reduction in the length of military service for privates was made possible by the increased attractiveness of contract military service and the ongoing work," Papikyan said.
He recalled that a number of legislative initiatives have also been introduced, including a military personnel certification program, and the "Defender of the Fatherland" program, which currently benefits 4,220 people and will increase by approximately 1,000 by 2025.
"The overall number of military personnel will not decrease. This will be a step toward a professional army," Papikyan stated, emphasizing the importance of working with reservists and contract soldiers without going into detail.
He stated that he could not disclose the number of military personnel serving in the army, as it is classified information, but suggested that the opposition discuss the matter behind closed doors.
Tigran Abrahamyan, Secretary of the opposition parliamentary faction "I Have the Honor" in the National Assembly of Armenia, stated that the adoption of the bill is premature and could lead to problems with personnel recruitment.
Anna Grigoryan, a member of the National Assembly of Armenia from the opposition faction "Armenia," stated that the bill is a "pre-election move." She also noted that the base salaries of contract soldiers and border guards should be higher than, for example, patrol officers.
Despite this, the committee unanimously voted to include the bill on the agenda of the plenary session of the National Assembly.
It was previously reported that the Armenian Ministry of Defense submitted a draft law on reducing the length of mandatory military service by increasing the length of contract service for public discussion in September 2025. It noted that, according to forecasts, after the amendments come into force, a reduction in the costs of organizing mandatory military service is expected, starting in 2028.
"This decision will come into force after January 1, 2026, and will apply to conscripts. As part of the winter draft, the process of recruiting for the Armed Forces will begin on January 7, 2026," Papikyan said during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defense and Security on Monday.
According to him, the reduction in the length of military service does not apply to previously conscripted servicemen.
"The reduction in the length of military service for privates was made possible by the increased attractiveness of contract military service and the ongoing work," Papikyan said.
He recalled that a number of legislative initiatives have also been introduced, including a military personnel certification program, and the "Defender of the Fatherland" program, which currently benefits 4,220 people and will increase by approximately 1,000 by 2025.
"The overall number of military personnel will not decrease. This will be a step toward a professional army," Papikyan stated, emphasizing the importance of working with reservists and contract soldiers without going into detail.
He stated that he could not disclose the number of military personnel serving in the army, as it is classified information, but suggested that the opposition discuss the matter behind closed doors.
Tigran Abrahamyan, Secretary of the opposition parliamentary faction "I Have the Honor" in the National Assembly of Armenia, stated that the adoption of the bill is premature and could lead to problems with personnel recruitment.
Anna Grigoryan, a member of the National Assembly of Armenia from the opposition faction "Armenia," stated that the bill is a "pre-election move." She also noted that the base salaries of contract soldiers and border guards should be higher than, for example, patrol officers.
Despite this, the committee unanimously voted to include the bill on the agenda of the plenary session of the National Assembly.
It was previously reported that the Armenian Ministry of Defense submitted a draft law on reducing the length of mandatory military service by increasing the length of contract service for public discussion in September 2025. It noted that, according to forecasts, after the amendments come into force, a reduction in the costs of organizing mandatory military service is expected, starting in 2028.
