Regulations allowing exemption from compulsory military service in exchange for a fee are being implemented in various countries. On November 14th, Hayk Sargsyan, the author of the “Civil Service Contract” draft law initiated by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), shared this information.

Sargsyan gave examples of countries where similar systems are in place. In Turkey, citizens who are at least 25 years old can pay 1.3 million drams and serve for 21 days. In Kazakhstan, citizens who are at least 24 years old can pay 340 thousand drams and serve for 35 days. In Georgia, the service period is approximately 12 months.

Sargsyan highlighted that the proposed project aims to release over 5,000 citizens who are subjected to compulsory military service due to an initiative in the criminal code. “We also have an article in the criminal code, which criminalizes evasion of compulsory military service for over 5,000 citizens who have already served for 27 years. If they were to return today, they would be obligated to serve for up to 5 years, and the state would spend over 1 million drams annually on each of them,” explained Hayk Sargsyan.

It is worth mentioning that ARF Deputy Hayk Sargsyan has introduced a draft law that offers the opportunity to exempt citizens who have served for 27 years or more from compulsory military service. According to the draft, these citizens can opt for reserve service, serve for 1 year and pay 2.5 million drams, serve for 6 months and pay 5 million drams, serve for 1 month and pay 10 million drams, or pay 15 million drams without serving.

This news is from Armenia and was reported by NEWS.am.