Deputy Defense Minister Hrachya Sargsyan told the parliamentary Defense and Security Committee that amendments to the Criminal Code will clarify what constitutes avoidance of training camps and increase penalties where evasion occurs without legal grounds. The draft also includes changes to the law on the Military Police, Armenpress reported.
According to the proposal, a citizen is considered to have avoided training if they:
- fail to report to their local military commissariat,
- refuse mandatory medical examination or evaluation,
- decline to participate in the call-up,
- or avoid it in any other way without legal exemption.
Such evasion may result in a fine ranging from 15 to 30 times the minimum wage, up to 2 months of short-term detention, or imprisonment of 1 to 3 years.
Penalties will be harsher if the avoidance involves self-inflicted injury, simulation of illness, falsification of documents, or deception.
The package also strengthens the role of the Military Police, granting them authority to assist commissariats in locating individuals who fail to appear for training or attempt to avoid service. The Military Police will also be empowered, on written request from competent bodies, to escort detained or arrested servicemen to participate in investigative or judicial procedures.
The committee gave the legislative package a positive assessment, and it will be included on the National Assembly’s plenary agenda.
