Government approves another extension of law allowing army dodgers to buy amnesty

YEREVAN, November 14. / ARKA /. The Armenian government has approved today another extension of a law allowing male citizens of Armenia who illegally evaded compulsory military service to buy a government amnesty.

Under the law, which first took effect in 2004, they can avoid criminal prosecution in exchange for a fee depending on the number of years they have spent on the run.  

This scheme was originally applicable only to those fugitive men who were aged 27 or older by June 2004. However, this age threshold has been repeatedly raised since then.The military dodgers have to pay 200,000 (about $ 493.3) for each evaded conscription which is held twice a year.

The amended law, which is to be approved by parliament,  applies to dodgers who will become 27 before December 2013. Diaspora minister Hranush Hakobyan, who presented the changes to the law, said it helps to repatriate thousands of male Armenians who have fled the country. -0-