Armenian activist slams conscription of mentally impaired young men

Human rights activist Zhanna Aleksanyan has warned about the mistreatment of mentally impaired young men drafted into the Armenian army.

“They are targeted in the army – beaten, mocked and exposed to violence. Their families are also very vulnerable and helpless,” Aleksanyan told Panorama.am on Monday, citing numerous reports.

It came after a recent decision by the Ministry of Defense to shorten the list of medical conditions that exempt men from serving in the army.

“We’ve had cases where young men with mental health issues were drafted. A mother was crying on the phone, devastated. In another case, a mentally impaired boy, who had previously been exempt from military service, was drafted after the list was shortened. Thankfully, a commander noticed his strange behavior and reported it, preventing further abuse,” Aleksanyan said.

The soldier was transferred to a hospital, and the Human Rights Defender's Office is aware of the case.

During a government meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that many young men suddenly develop illnesses right before the conscription, calling it a corruption issue.

Aleksanyan dismissed Pashinyan’s claims as false and immoral. “Even if a few cases exist, you can’t generalize. This might be happening in their circle, but poor families’ sons are being drafted instead of the privileged. When a soldier suffers, does Pashinyan take responsibility?”

In one severe case, a mentally ill soldier was brutally beaten by six fellows, including a commander. “They drafted him despite his condition, then beat him and later blamed him for the incident,” Aleksanyan reported.

She argues that such decisions require major military reforms, which are lacking due to a climate of impunity and criminal behavior in the army.

“No one wants to change the army — they are comfortable with their privileged positions. Mental health issues don’t just disappear. Why are you drafting them? To humiliate them? Can a mentally disabled person really defend the country’s borders?” Aleksanyan questioned.