Military Service in Armenia Should Be Optional, Sakunts Says

In Armenia, people's personal beliefs, philosophical views, or their call of conscience do not warrant their exemption from mandatory military service, Helsinki Citizen Assembly Vanadzor office head Artur Sakunts said during a Monday discussion on the Armenian law On Alternative Service.

“While it's true that there has been some change with regard to alternative service since 2004-2013 – Jehovah's Witnesses have been given the right to alternative service – however, a number of pressing issues are still there and remain unresolved. Namely, while serving in the army, one is not allowed to apply for exemption. That is, a person cannot change his beliefs during [the two years of mandatory service]. This is a gross violation [of human rights]. Military service should be optional; a citizen has only one obligation to the country – paying taxes,” Sakunts stated.

The human rights activist pointed out that members of the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church have inexplicable advantages over other soldiers; the army even pays clergymen salary based on the fact that they are conducting a “spiritual service.”

“It's unclear, however, why they should  be favoured over, say, representatives of the Protestant Church. We do, after all, have a secular and not a religious state,” Sakunts said.