During a regular session of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth, and Sports of the National Assembly, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan, presented the draft amendments to the Law on Military Service and the Status of Servicemen for second reading.
The proposed changes relate to deferment and military service obligations for citizens of the Republic of Armenia who are studying at universities ranked among the top 50 in the Shanghai global university rankings. Under the proposal, citizens who receive deferment and pursue studies at the specified institutions would have the opportunity, after completing their education, to work in the Republic of Armenia for at least three years in a priority sector defined by the Government. Following this period of work, they would be exempt from compulsory military service.
The Minister noted that between the first and second readings, a number of working discussions were held, and the draft was refined. A significant portion of the submitted proposals was accepted, while some aspects are expected to be reflected in secondary legislation adopted after the law’s approval. According to the Minister, most of the accepted proposals were editorial in nature, and no substantial changes were made to the core content of the draft.
It was also stated that the provisions on deferment and exemption from military service were technically separated in the draft in order to avoid misinterpretation. The article related to exemption was adjusted editorially and was also reflected in the transitional provisions of the draft law.
A two-month period has been set following the adoption of the law for the development and approval of relevant secondary legal acts. Work in this direction has already begun, and further discussions are planned to clarify key provisions and details.
The draft received a positive conclusion from the lead committee and has been proposed for inclusion in the agenda of the upcoming plenary session of the National Assembly. The information was reported by Iravaban.net, citing the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
