Ministry of Defense Relies on Sick Citizens In Regards to Recruitment, Reports NGO

The Armenian Ministry of Defense and it’s respective subdivisions continue to conduct illegal measures during the entire recruitment process, by recruiting individuals with serious health issues, stated the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office official site.  

According to the HCA Vanadzor Office’s 2014-2015 statement, the study showed that those who approached the organization with health documents during the winter recruitment are not supposed to enter military duty with a current health issue. Whereas, even conclusions by medical commissions were not taken into consideration during the entire recruitment period.

The organization presented a few of the illnesses among the conscripts who approach them; including neurosis, scoliosis, ulcers, serious vision issues, testicular hypertrophy.

HCA Vanadzor Office stated that the Ministry of Defense is not going to give up on the habit of recruiting citizens with health issue or those not fit to serve. The Office believes, that all the reforms that are mentioned from time to time, carry a superficial nature and are not intended for systematic reforms.

“The Armenian Ministry of Defense's replenishment of the Armed Forces relies on citizens with illnesses and, in reality, the Ministry displays no political will to solve this serious issue. Basically, the Defense Ministry in no way displays the desire to remedy the thread of violations of a conscript’s human rights; leaving parents and conscripts discouraged and in uncertainty,” concluded the report.