Opposition urged to back lawmaker's push to free draft dodgers

Lawyer Arsen Babayan has called on opposition lawmakers to support a legislative initiative by ruling Civil Contract faction MP Hayk Sargsyan that would release 16 young men imprisoned for draft evasion.

Sargsyan has proposed changes that would allow those currently serving sentences to be freed and then fulfill mandatory military service. To advance the measure, he needs a special parliament session, which requires lawmakers’ signatures.

“As someone who voted for the opposition, I ask you to join Hayk Sargsyan’s initiative. At this stage, you cannot do anything more important,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday.