Opposition MP slams proposal to shorten military service in Armenia

Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan has denounced a government-drafted bill that would reduce the mandatory military service from two years to 18 months in Armenia.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Abrahamyan accused the authorities of putting electoral interests above national security. “What difference does it make whether an 18–20-year-old conscript faces hardships or a 21–23-year-old contract soldier? The overall burden remains on the armed forces and the proposal doesn't address the real problems,” he argued.

The government’s justification claims that the contract service system is established and that the change will ease pressure on conscripts. Abrahamyan, however, dismissed this explanation as a populist move ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.

“The authorities are subordinating state interests and security to their own political survival. With such populist moves, they hope to win over different groups of society, translate that support into votes and extend their rule,” he charged.

The MP warned that cutting troop numbers could weaken combat readiness and leave Armenia unable to respond to future threats. He recalled that from 2020 to 2023, when Azerbaijani forces invaded Armenian territory, the government claimed it lacked the means to respond.

Abrahamyan also pointed to Azerbaijan’s ongoing calls for Armenia’s demilitarization, accusing the authorities of effectively meeting Baku’s demands and endangering the country’s security.