“ACNIS ReView from Yerevan”. There was a time when society cherished the belief that no young man who had not served in the Soviet army—who had not fulfilled his duty to the homeland—was fit to marry. The reasoning was straightforward: a man who failed to appreciate the importance of serving his country was unlikely to understand the value of family and a wife. Today, however, morals and societal standards seem to have shifted. Avoiding military service is no longer met with public condemnation. On the contrary, such individuals are often praised as resourceful, shrewd, and cunning—or, as colloquially termed, “capable.”
This reflection arose while reviewing a draft law proposing a significant change to military service procedures. Authored by Hayk Sargsyan of the “My Step” faction—popularly referred to as the “Bottle Holder”—the proposal seeks to amend the law “On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen.” The draft legislation introduces a fee-based alternative to the traditional 24-month conscription. Under this system, one month of service would cost 20 million drams, while six months would be priced at 15 million drams, with corresponding adjustments for other durations.
The government has already approved the draft, which includes regulations tied to Armenia’s defense and security. These provisions will soon be presented to the parliament, where, despite significant public and expert opposition, the ruling majority is expected to pass the contentious bill. The implications are alarming: military service, long upheld as a badge of honor and civic responsibility, risks becoming a burden exclusive to the poor—those unable to afford the hefty 15–20 million dram fees. This law, in effect, threatens to erode the foundational principles of the army, transforming it from a collective duty into a privilege for the wealthy.
This proposal commodifies military service, enabling individuals to purchase exemption from their duty to the homeland. For a nation like Armenia—positioned precariously between neighbors like Azerbaijan and Turkey—such a measure is not just ill-advised but perilous. External threats are only one dimension of the risk; internal divisions pose an equally grave danger. A security system based on financial privilege fosters societal polarization. On one side are the wealthy, able to exempt their children from service; on the other, the poor, whose sons must bear the weight of national defense.
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Even now, many affluent families evade military service through corruption or patronage. Instead of addressing these systemic flaws, the government has opted to legitimize them. By institutionalizing financial exemptions, it exacerbates social inequality, risks widening societal rifts, and relegates the army to a force drawn almost exclusively from disadvantaged backgrounds. This undermines the principles of justice and equality while diminishing the army’s role as a unifying institution for the nation.
Armenia’s complex geopolitical reality demands that the army remain a cornerstone of national unity and resilience. Policies that prioritize financial considerations over collective responsibility jeopardize this vital pillar. A military service system predicated on monetary transactions not only sacrifices national security but also erodes the army’s capacity to unite the country. Such proposals require extensive public debate, especially when introduced by a party with limited public trust and legitimacy. This concern is amplified amidst suspicions that members of the ruling Civil Contract Party may be advancing such legislation to safeguard their own children. Armenia’s security, unity, and future depend on policies rooted in equality, justice, and shared responsibility—not on short-term expedience or financial calculations.
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
