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<\/a><\/p>\nHusikyan\u2019s appeal was heard at a December 25 meeting of the Public Council under the Defense Ministry. At the hearing, Lernik was asked to show the council members his feet and the bone spurs on them. \u201cI saw him when he came in to the building and he was limping then, hence I\u2019m sure he is not pretending that he has issues,\u201d one of the council members told his colleagues.<\/p>\n
According to the draftee\u2019s mother, doctors at the medical center in Gyumri have told them that the young man would never be able to wear combat boots. \u201cHe should only wear soft shoes,\u201d she argued.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the main criteria for determining military service fitness is the ability of a future serviceman to wear the appropriate military uniform. If his health does not allow him to, then he can not serve,\u201d Public Council chairman, adviser to the Minister of Defense Gegham Harutyunyan confirmed further. He added that the Ministry has begun discussions on introducing new shoe standards for servicemen with leg problems.<\/p>\n
Hunoyan\u2019s apparent problems, however, were not enough proof to exempt him from service; the Council stated they needed a corresponding medical assessment to be able to make such a decision. The young man\u2019s parents, meanwhile, insist that the Gyumri medical center refused to give them any documents when they found out they were examining a draftee. In addition, the military commissariat refused to give them family a referral for a follow-up examination.<\/p>\n