The Office of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) received a total of 123 applications during the 2025 summer military draft from conscripts, their families, and lawyers, both in written and oral form.
Of these, 41 cases were examined through written procedures, 12 required urgent responses, and 70 citizens were provided with consultations regarding possible solutions to their concerns.
A significant portion of the complaints involved disputes over conclusions issued by medical commissions, appeals of those decisions, and the need for repeated or supervisory medical examinations.
Other issues raised included deferments based on major achievements in education, science, or sports, access to alternative service, acquisition of medical documents, and similar matters.
Throughout the draft, the Ombudsman’s office worked under a clear methodology: complaints were reviewed and processed as quickly as possible, with written requests sent to competent bodies demanding clarifications and offering specific recommendations.
As part of rapid response efforts, discussions were initiated with military commissariats, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, as well as relevant departments and healthcare institutions.
Regular meetings were also held with the Central Medical Commission concerning conscripts’ examinations, repeated and supervisory tests, and other pressing issues.
It was noted that the effectiveness of handling individual conscription-related cases has significantly improved, with an increase in the number of cases resolved positively.
At the same time, systemic issues remain, requiring coordinated action by state institutions and the introduction of faster response mechanisms. These steps, the Ombudsman stressed, are crucial for ensuring proper protection of human rights during the draft process.
The Ombudsman submitted specific recommendations to competent state bodies, while also including the matter in the annual report with a detailed analysis.
