Armenian MP slams military service buyout plan

Opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan has strongly criticized a revived proposal from Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party that would allow conscripts to significantly shorten their military service in exchange for substantial payments.

Civil Contract MP Hayk Sargsyan recently introduced a draft bill that would give conscripts the option to reduce their mandatory two-year military service to just six months by paying $38,000 to the state budget, or to a single month by paying $51,000.

Abrahamyan, a member of the Pativ Unem faction, condemned the timing and intent behind the bill in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“The renewed push for this measure is no coincidence. It comes just ahead of the parliamentary elections and aligns with Azerbaijan's demands for Armenia's demilitarization,” Abrahamyan wrote.

“The government itself has repeatedly acknowledged serious issues with army recruitment. In that context, promoting shorter military service regardless of the rationale delivers yet another blow to Armenia's security,” Abrahamyan warned.