Armenia: Information on the national armed forces; in particular recruitment and alternative service
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AMN10933 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Armenia: Information on the national armed forces; in particular recruitment and alternative service, 1 May 1992, AMN10933, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaa93c.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a December 1991 BBC report, the period of military service in Armenia was reduced from 24 to 18 months (BBC Summary 6 Dec. 1991). However, as reported by Interfax, a newspaper published by a nationalist group in February 1992 stated that because young people are unwilling to serve in the army, the state needs to adopt a new law on conscription as soon as possible (Interfax 27 Feb. 1992).
In February 1992, the BBC carried a report on an appeal issued by the Armenian Defence Ministry for officers to return to Armenia to help establish a national army (27 Feb. 1992). An Agence France Presse report from March 1992 on a Russian television broadcast indicates that the Armenian parliament issued a decree on the general mobilization of men under 50 years of age (8 Mar. 1992). However, Tass reported that the Armenian president had signed a decree in April 1992 "to draft male Armenian citizens who have reached the age of 18" (20 Apr. 1992). The report also indicates that those whose right to postpone compulsory military service is no longer valid are also subject to the draft (Ibid.).
According to Reuters, recruits were sworn into a new national army in March 1992 (22 Mar. 1992). Tass reported in April that Armenia's first paratrooper regiment had been sworn in (22 April 1992).
Information specific to alternative military service in Armenia is not currently available to the IRBDC.
References
Agence France Presse. 8 March 1992. "Mobilisation générale en Armenie, selon la télévision russe." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 29 February 1992. "Armenian Defence Ministry Appeals For Officers To Return and Form Regular Army." (NEXIS)
_____. 6 December 1991. "Armenian Supreme Soviet Reduces Military Service Requirement." (NEXIS)
Interfax [Moscow, in English]. 27 Feb. 1992. "Young People Unwilling to Serve in Army." (FBIS-SOV-92-040 28 February 1992, p. 60)
Reuters. 22 March 1992. AM Cycle. Paul Holmes. "Armenia Swears in Recruits to Fledgling Army." (NEXIS)
Tass [Moscow]. 22 April 1992. Tigran Liloyan. "Armenian Conscripts Sworn In." (NEXIS)
_____. 20 April 1992. Tigran Liloyan "Armenian President Announces Regular Spring Draft." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Reuters. 22 March 1992. AM Cycle. Paul Holmes. "Armenia Swears in Recruits to Fledgling Army." (NEXIS)
Tass [Moscow]. 20 April 1992. Tigran Liloyan. "Armenian President Announces Regular Spring Draft." (NEXIS)
