Former Armenian MP Calls People Who Choose to Opt Out of Military Service ‘Second-Rate’

The Armenian state should should carry out a campaign to let people know that without having served in the army they would become “second-rate” citizens, ex-lawmaker Rubik Hakobyan announced at the National Assembly on Wednesday during the hearings on the law on military duty.

“The concept of “nation-army” should be turned into our common belief. I think that propaganda in this direction is quite weak. There are countries where a young man who has not served in the army is perceived as a traitor to the nation, especially in countries that are at war. There are countries where religious minorities are given the right to optional service, but these people choose to serve because they know they will otherwise be considered traitors. We, Mr. Minister, have to pay more attention to the propaganda. We have to be able to form a public opinion, so that people understand that they become second-rate people if they choose not to serve in the army,” Hakobyan stated.

The former MP also complained that the Armenian law on military duty does not provide for the possibility of swift mobilization; “Volunteering is a good thing, but mandatory volunteering is better, and the draft law should clearly state that.”

Hakobyan went on to claim that he fully supported the law, suggesting only to “tighten it a bit more,” and to raise the draft age to 51 instead of the current 35. The ex-lawmaker further suggested that National Assembly MPs should not be exempt from military service.

Meanwhile, Hakobyan insisted that people like chess player Levon Aronyan and musician Tigran Hamasyan should not have to serve in the army.